DublinGazette SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2018
DUBLINMAGAZINE: Summer’s packed its DUBLIN
bags and gone off travelling – but we’ve still got plenty of bright, bubbly content! SEE PAGE 17
Fingal Edition FREE
THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL AREA
Housing row FINGAL County Council has hit back at Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy’s criticisms of local authorities not doing enough to tackle the housing crisis. Council chief Paul Reid has pointed out how Fingal is meeting its targets. P2
SPORT
Cheer on a world record attempt
CAMOGIE: Dublin
Junior Premier side in dreamland with big All-Ireland final win over Kerry in Croke Par SEE P39
TRAVEL
WE’RE NOT QUITE THERE YET – BUT BAG A NEW YEAR’S EVE BARGAIN P25
Mayor Anthony Lavin joined actor Johnny Ward, a cyborg and a couple of showgirls at the starting line for the tenth annual Cannonball 2018. Setting off from Malahide Castle, this year’s Cannonball saw hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering on the high-performance cars taking part as they blazed a trail around the country. Picture: Andres Poveda
2020 Leinster Fleadh is heading to Swords Music fest a high note for town
SYLVIA POWNALL
Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you
SWORDS has been chosen to host the 2020 Leinster Fleadh, which could pave the way for the All-Ireland festival to be held in the capital of the north county. The week-long trad music event will take
place in July and is expected to generate millions of euro in revenue for the town. The All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil is the biggest music festival in the country, attracting up to 400,000 visitors with an estimated €40 million windfall for local businesses. Welcoming the news, the Mayor of Fin-
gal, Cllr Anthony Lavin (FG) said: “The Fingal Fleadh which took place in Swords over the weekend showed just how strong the interest in Irish music and culture is in Fingal. “Hosting the Leinster Fleadh is the natural next step and we look forward to welcoming visitors from all over Leinster and beyond to Fingal in 2020.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
IF YOU’RE looking for a smashing day out this weekend, Keith Fanning (below) has just the thing for you – Balbriggan’s very own Iron Palm master is inviting all and sundry to see him try to break a world record this weekend when he attempts to break up to 200 concrete roof tiles with his hand in 30 seconds. Ouch! Cheer him on at Bremore Castle on Saturday.
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2 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
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MINISTER’S CLAIMS REJECTED BY COUNCIL
Fingal fumes as row on housing deepens SYLVIA POWNALL
spownall@dublingazette.com
HOUSING Minister Eoghan Murphy has been dubbed “a fraud” amid claims he sat on plans for 1,200 houses in Damastown for months with no commitment to funding. Mulhuddart Cllr Matt Waine (Solidarity) accused Minister Murphy of shifting the blame for the housing crisis onto local authorities who are carrying out his policies. He issued the statement just days before Sinn Fein lodged a motion of no confidence in the Minister on Tuesday – as Fingal County Council chief Paul Reid also rejected Minister Murphy’s criticism of the
Fingal County Council has defended its delivery of social housing units, with council chief Paul Reid highlighting the county’s performance, to date
four Dublin councils. Fingal County Council owns a significant landbank in Damastown, D15, and Solidarity reckons funding of €186 million could deliver the 1,200 units. Cllr Waine said: “Last October, I – along with
Solidarity – published a comprehensive and costed proposal to develop 1,200 homes on council-owned lands in a new social and affordable community called Damastown Village. “The council have basically adopted our plan. However, when we push them on the funding model and the timescale, officials tell us that they don’t know because the Minister’s office hasn’t told them if the Department will back the costs. “It is a bit rich for Minister Murphy to be throwing his weight around blaming county managers when he hasn’t even given the green light to a public develop-
ment that would see 1,200 homes delivered within two years in a homeless blackspot.” The number of homeless people rose by 25% during the first 13 months of Minister Murphy’s tenure to a record 9,891 people in July. He has instructed Fingal County Council to provide hubs for 300 families, and 150 beds for rough sleepers, threatening to step in and use emergency powers if this is not done. But Fingal chief Paul Reid said the council, which has delivered more social units per capita than any other Dublin authority, was “relentlessly committed to housing”. At Monday’s council meeting, he revealed he’d written to Minister Murphy highlighting Fingal’s performance in delivering 2,241 social units from 2015 to 2017, and is on target to meet its 2018 target of 1,637 units. Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF) said: “The core problem is not Fingal County Council but Fine Gael, as the Minister will not provide the council with sufficient funding to deliver largescale mixed-tenure developments on public land with public money, despite repeated calls to do so.”
Appeal over right of way at Donabate site
A DEVELOPER refused permission to build houses near a right of way used by schoolchildren in Donabate has appealed the council’s decision. Supporting Proper Development in Dona b a t e ( S P D D) h a s expressed disappointment at the move as it means the pathway, which has been closed for eight months, will remain out of bounds. Aljaco Ltd, which is owned by the developer of Somerton and Carr’s Mill, had applied for permission for six houses at the Paddocks near Somerton but this was rejected. One of the three reasons Fingal County Council turned down the application was because the proposed development would contravene
materially a condition attached to permission at the site which requires the preservation of the existing pedestrian footpath. In its appeal to An B o rd P l e a n a l a , t h e developer claims there is no established right of way as the pathway is not lit at night, the lands are in private ownership and the landowner has not had any wayleaves or registered right of way served under any development plan under the Planning and Development Act. A spokesperson for SPDD said developers should not be allowed to interfere materially in how residents go about their business, especially when the issue involves the safety of schoolchildren.
Shock at latest farmer attack in north Dublin
THE Irish Farmers’ Association has called for more garda resources in north Co Dublin after a Swords farmer was attacked and beaten unconscious. Dairy farmer Patrick Walsh was kicked and punched by a group of four men after he confronted them on his lands at Lispopple on the evening of Sunday, September 2. He sustained four cracked ribs and a dislocated shoulder and had to have six stitches under his eye when he was treated for his injuries in hospital. The 47-year-old said: “I was kicked to the ground, they all had a bit of a go at me. The next thing I remember was waking up with my face to the road. I didn’t know what day it was, nothing. “I’m a relatively young, fit man, but I’ve a lot of elderly neighbours. If a man in his seventies or eighties went out to confront these guys, they would have killed him.” IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy has described the “unprovoked and violent attack” as disgraceful and said Mr Walsh could have been seriously injured or killed. This is the third serious attack in the past year in north Dublin. A farmer in St Margaret’s who was deliberately run over by men he caught illegally dumping on his land sustained two broken legs and a broken collar bone. Another farmer was threatened at knifepoint when he approached men on his land and asked them to leave.
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 3
BALBRIGGAN: MARTIAL ARTIST TO LIVESTREAM HIS IRON PALM ATTEMPT AT BREMORE CASTLE
Hoping to break 200 tiles and a world record (but not any bones) SYLVIA POWNALL
ONE of Ireland’s top martial artists will bid for a world record this weekend as he attempts to break up to 200 concrete roof tiles with his hand in 30 seconds. Sifu Keith Fanning will use the newly-restored Bremore Castle in his home town of Balbriggan as a backdrop as he livestreams his record bid to the world. T h e wo r l d re c o rd attempt will get under way at 1pm this Saturday, September 15, and Keith – who runs Blue Dragon Iron Fitness – is hoping it attracts a good crowd. He told Dublin Gazette: “I’m planning to break 160200 concrete roof tiles with my hand in 30 seconds. I did a practice run last week and all looks good. “Fingers crossed
now we get the weather and the crowd. I haven’t had any real injuries, thank God. It’s all about the training and I have been training my hands since I was 16.” Keith’s love of martial arts started with Kung Fu at the age of four under his father, Jon Fanning, who died in 2013. He studied other training and holds a brown belt in traditional Jiu Jitsu, a black belt in combat Jiu Jitsu and an instructor grade in Muay Thai. He also trained in full contact kickboxing for three years and was awarded Sifu
Keith’s inviting everyone to come along and see his try at the world record
(professor) status in San Francisco in 2008. That same year, he hosted a fundraiser for a local girl with cerebral palsy during which he lay on a bed of nails with ten concrete blocks on his chest which his dad, Jon, smashed with a sledgehammer. Keith completed his breaking exam in London and was awarded the ‘Iron Palm Medallion’ in 2006 – a level which had not been reached by anyone since 1973. His love for Hard Chi Gung (block breaking) s aw h i m
bring the first Irish team of breakers to O r l a n d o, Florida in 2 0 0 7 fo r the world championships. In 2016 he was inducted i n to I re l a n d ’s Mixed Martial Arts hall of fame and last year he won the world title for breaking. Keith’s bid is being held in conjunction with the upcoming World Breaking Championships, which he is bringing to Ireland and will host in Balbriggan in October. He said: “The elite of the breaking world will come to compete for the ultimate prize. But before that happens, I want t o give
keith’s Blue Dragon Iron Fitness page on Facebook has a great video showing him in action, and a little more about the upcoming Irish Breaking Championships
my competitors a little something to really motivate them.
“I’m inviting everyone to come and witness it. Let’s show them all
that Balbriggan is ready to break onto the world stage.”
Late chairman Willie Prout is immortalised with a mural at the heart of Glebe North FC
The mural commemorating the late Willie Prout
GLEBE North FC unveiled a special tribute last week to honour former club president Willie Prout, who passed away in June. A mural painted by Alan Sloey now has pride of place in the stand and the club also unveiled its new kit, which features the words ‘W Prout Legend’ on the sleeve. His widow Eileen attended the poignant ceremony at the Balbriggan clubhouse and was presented with a framed jersey, as was artist Alan Sloey.
A club spokesperson said: “Willie is a tremendous loss to the club. We wanted to do something special to remember Willie, and the tribute goes to show the tremendous impact that he had on the club. “At this time, Glebe North FC, much like Willie’s wife Eileen and sons Kevin, Damien, Gerard, Liam and extended family, are at a tremendous loss with his passing. “But at the same time we feel lucky for having the pleasure and
honour of sharing a part of Willie’s life and knowing such an honourable gentleman.” In July a €1,000 donation was made by the club to a charity chosen by Willie’s family, the Balbriggan Cancer Support Group, in the late club president’s name. On Friday, a poem written by Ed Byrne was read out and the ceremony coincided with the first home game of the season against Maynooth allowing the team to wear their new kit with pride.
4 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
RESCUE R116: FAMILIES KEEP MEMORY ALIVE
Family and friends honour R116 Ciaran SYLVIA POWNALL
A CLOSE PAL of lost Rescue 116 Coast Guard Ciaran Smith has told how his family and friends are keeping his legacy alive. Calling themselves Team Invictus, inspired by Ciaran’s favourite poem, a group of cyclists have just completed the gruelling Race Around Ireland in his name. The team and crew included Ciaran’s wife Martina, took part in the non-stop cycle race which attracts the hardiest competitors from around the globe. R116 pilot Sid Lawrence, who worked with Ciaran, was
one of those who saddled up for the challenge and says he took inspiration from his longtime pal ‘Smithy’. He told Dublin Gazette: “You can do it as a team or a solo, which is serious stuff. Ciaran competed in 2013 and 2014, and successfully completed the full 2,200km circuit solo in 2015. “I worked with him for the best part of 14 years. He was a dear, dear friend of mine and I couldn’t think of a better tribute to my friend than to cycle around Ireland.” The late Ciaran Smith Ciaran’s three brothers-inlaw also took part and even as one of the support crew the Coast Guard cleaning lady manning the camper van. Anne Fox got in on the action Sid said: “It was a real fam-
ily and friends event. We felt it was vitally important to do it. It was a homage to Ciaran, he had raised money for Laura Lynn Hospice before. “To date as it stands we’re going to be giving them a cheque for €25,000 in his name. In 2015 I was privileged to be a small part of Ciaran’s achievement when he did it solo. “I was one of the crew and watching him cycle around Ireland was five of the most inspirational days of my life. It was utterly awe-inspiring to watch that man do that. “The plan for 2017 was he was to repeat that and I was to be with him, and in 2019 he was going to do the ultimate chal-
lenge, the Race Across America. But it wasn’t to be.” Father-of-three Ciaran, from Oldtown, was lost with all three other R116 crew members when their helicopter crashed off the Mayo coast on March 14 last year. The bodies of pilots Dara Fitzpatrick and Mark Duffy were recovered but their two colleagues, winch operator Ciaran and winchman Paul Ormsby, remain lost at sea. Sid said: “Ciaran was a gentleman, he inspired me. I always say if you open the page in the dictionary on the word gentleman you will see two photographs, one is my grandfather and the other is Ciaran Smith.
“He had a lovely outlook on life. He was a lovely man and we sorely miss him.” Team Invictus are still taking donations for the children’s hospice and will celebrate their achievement later this month. As for getting back in the saddle? “If you asked me the day we finished I would have said b**ger off, my arse is sore,” admitted Sid. “But now I would say never say never. We’re not finished with this yet.” To donate visit: https:// www.ifundraise.ie/4099_ race-around-ireland-2018-inaid-of-laura-lynn-children-shospice.html
Portmarnock giant sewage plant dog walk protest. Photo: Alison O’Hanlon
Irish Water advised to extend sewage plant deadline
SYLVIA POWNALL
AN BORD PLEANALA has written to Irish Water advising of the need to extend the deadline for submissions on its application to build a giant sewage treatment plant in Fingal. If it gets the green light the Greater Dublin Drainage Project will see waste from all of Dublin as well as parts of Meath and Kildare processed in Clonshaugh and pumped into the Irish Sea off Portmarnock.
The deadline for submissions expired in August and a total of 147 were lodged – including one with more than 8,000 signatures. Protests have since been held by residents in Clonshaugh and Portmarnock alarmed at the impact on their environs. But now the planning appeals board, which will make a ruling on the application, has written to Irish Water advising of the need for a five-week extension allowing
for submissions and observations. Philip Swan of Portmarnock Drainage Awareness told Dublin Gazette: “This is good news as it gives us another five weeks to get submissions in and have our voices heard.” Engineers writing on BP’s behalf said it had been brought to the Board’s attention that certain appendices and other details had been “inadvertently omitted by Irish Water from the EIAR” (Environmental Impact Assessment Report).
The letter adds: “The Board is of the opinion that further public notice is required outlining the nature of these omissions and allowing a period of not less than five weeks for submissions”. Under current plans the plant, which will have a 500,000-population cut off point, will be capable of pumping 3,600 litres of sewage a second – 310million litres an hour - via the outflow pipe, off Ireland’s Eye. Irish Water insisted there would be no issue with the water quality, adding that the proposed outfall is 6km out to the Irish Sea and will be 23m below sea level at the point of discharge. An Bord Pleanala has advised Irish Water that new site notices must be erected informing those who have
already paid a e50 observer fee that they need not pay again but are free to lodge a further observation. In addition Pleanala asks that Irish Water write to prescribed bodies, and additionally the Commission for Railway Regulation and Irish Rail “which have separately been notified by the Board”. It adds: “The Board is also of the view that that the Irish Aviation Authority should be notified of the planning application”. Just last week it emerged that chiefs at Failte Ireland were unaware of the planning application which could significantly impact on tourism at the Velvet Strand, the only beach on the east coast with both Blue Flag and Green Flag status
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 5
HOPES THAT EVENT WILL LEAD TO HOSTING OF ALL-IRELAND
Delight as fleadh to play out in Swords CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The week-long Leinster tradfest will include special celebrations to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the formation of Comhairle Laighean and the hosting of the first ever Leinster Fleadh in 1960. The Dublin County Board of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Fingal County Council say if it proves successful, they will then bid for the All-Ireland fleadh. This year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, which is deemed the world’s largest festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance, was held for the first time in Drogheda, where businesses reported bumper trade figures. Mary Whelan, Cathaoirleach of the Dublin County Board, CCE, said: “To be given the task of hosting the Leinster Fleadh
during the 60th anniversary year of Comhairle Laighean is a huge honour. “We are looking forward to working with Fingal County Council to make it an event to remember. If we can do that successfully, then we will definitely look to bring Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann to Swords in the future.” The €26 million Swords Cultural Quarter project is due for completion in 2020 and the plaza would provide an ideal venue for music, with the castle as a backdrop. Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council, said: “We have a lot of experience in staging major events in Swords. “Hosting the Leinster Fleadh will give us the perfect opportunity to show the town’s potential as a possible host of the All-Ireland Fleadh.”
Pictured are members of Craobh Sean Treacy CCE, Danu Meehan, Muireann Ni Mhaoildeirg, Aoibhin Farrell and Cillian Farrell with Paul Reid, chief executive Fingal County Council; Mary Whelan, chairperson, Dublin County Board, Comhaltas; and Mayor of Fingal Anthony Lavin. Photo: SON Photographic
“
The Swords Cultural Quarter project plaza would provide an ideal venue for music, with the castle as a backdrop
Donabate teen in serious condition in hospital after fight over his shoes SYLVIA POWNALL
A DONABATE teenager remains in a serious condition in hospital after being attacked at a pre-arranged fight because of the shoes he was wearing. Adam McDonnell (17) was rushed to Beaumont Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning after the incident outside Starbucks in Airside Retail Park at 1.30am. The teenager, who did his Leaving Cert at Colaiste Choilm in Swords this year, had to be put in an induced coma because of the severity of the head injury he sustained. Gar-
dai are trawling CCTV from neighbouring businesses and are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the vicinity to come forward. It’s believed Adam was with a group of friends for a ‘straightener’ prearranged on social media to sort out a disagreement with another group of teens. He fell to the ground after being punched and hit his head off the footpath. Surgeons had to remove part of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain due to swelling. His mother Aileen revealed: “Adam is very
interested in fashion, and he has been slagged about it. This is all over a pair of shoes. Clothes mean more to him than just looking well. He had an interview last week in Griffith College to do a course in fashion design. It’s just his thing. “Adam is not a violent person, and people were picking on him and antagonising him about his clothes and shoes. He’s a quiet lad and well liked. “Adam isn’t a fighter. He doesn’t look for trouble. He works part-time in T1 [Terminal One] in the airport and spends his money on clothes and shoes rather
than drink.” Gardai confirmed that officers attended an incident at Airside Retail Park on Sunday at around 1.30am in which a teenage male “was allegedly assaulted by another male and was seriously injured”. A garda spokesman said: “There would have been a lot of people in the area at the time who may have been socialising or heading home after a night out. “We hope that anyone in the area at the time, or taxi drivers who were collecting or dropping fares and who may have seen something, would get in touch.”
Warning over Bus Connects’ ‘ommissions’
THERE are “glaring omissions” in the Bus Connects plan and commuters’ genuine concerns must be taken on board, a Fingal TD has warned. Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF), who has held a series of public meetings on the issue, said towns with growing populations on the outskirts of Fingal would suffer if certain routes are axed. He appeared on RTE’s Prime Time earlier this week where he addressed his concerns directly to Gerard Walker, the man credited with designing the proposed overhaul of Dublin’s bus network. He said: “There’s new people moving into these areas and what you’re asking them to do is to change buses to get into the city. You’re also asking them to trust that
the infrastructure that is required to run this plan will be provided.” Plans to scrap the 33 to Rush and Lusk have caused uproar. This week Fine Gael representative Bob Dowling said not only should the 33X be retained, but expanded. He said: “Both areas are currently seeing increases in population, and at a time like this there should be an increase in direct city centre services, not a decrease.” Meanwhile, Clonsillabased Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind), who has held two Bus Connects meetings in Dublin 15, has reiterated her call for a customer-led service. “Residents can make their views known to the NTA by email, consultations@busconnects.ie and I urge everyone to make their views known”
6 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
GALLERIES
Cllr Darragh Butler, John Spillane and Cllr Eoghan O’Brien
Lily Kenny
Craic agus Ceol at Fingal Fleadh, Swords Castle
Brandon and Lauren Bowers
The Barker family from Swords
Darren Rogers
Tracy O’Grady Griffin. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon
Saoirse and Brian Kiernan
Ciara and Hannah O’Keeffe
Kate, Anna Cunningham, Alannah Timmins and Grace O’Shaughnessy Cllr Sean Smith, Meath County Council with family and friends
See more pictures from Fingal Fleadh on page 10
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 7
SAFETY: MOUNTING CONCERNS OVER D15 SAFETY
Minister ‘ignores’ a request for lifesaving ladders Sheridan’s Pharmacy
SYLVIA POWNALL
ENVIRONMENT Minister Eoghan Murphy has been accused of “ignoring” a request for high-rise turntable fire ladders in Dublin 15 amid mounting concerns over safety. In April, Fingal County Council wrote to the Minister calling for Dublin Fire Brigade to be given the resources to tackle blazes in high-rise apartment blocks. But last week it emerged that Minister Murphy’s office has not responded to the letter. The news comes as planning applications are lodged for several sevenstorey apartment blocks in Hansfield. Just last year, residents of the Verdemont apartments were left homeless after a blaze broke out at
the complex off the Snugborough Road. Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind), who tabled the motion to write to the minister, said it was “a serious safety issue and one that cannot be ignored”. In the wake of the blaze at the 16-storey Metro Hotel in Ballymun in March, Dublin Fire Brigade warned that if there was a high-rise fire in Blanchardstown local crews could not intervene – because the only two 33m turntable ladders at its disposal are kept in Tara Street. SIPTU Dublin Fire Brigade convenor Shane McGill said: “If there’s a fire ladder needed in Blanchardstown or Tallaght at 6pm in the height of traffic, there will be lives lost. “We need to look at what we have and what
we need urgently. Why don’t we have turntable ladders around the county?” Echoing the sentiment, Cllr Doyle said it was not good enough for the minister to ignore a written request from members of local government. She told Dublin Gazette: “I have been a staunch supporter of Dublin Fire Brigade, and have called for the provision of greater resources to the service here in Coolmine. “At the Centre in Blanchardstown we have a number of high-rise buildings, such as the Liberty and Crowne Plaza Buildings, but we also will have a number of seven-storey blocks at Hansfield over the next short while. “High-rise platforms are based in Tara Street, and in heavy traffic response
Art in the boat shed FINGAL County Council is inviting applications for the use of the art studio within the restored former boathouse in Loughshinny. The boathouse was restored in 2014 and has the dual purpose of providing a lifeguard station and a day studio for artists. The dramatic location of the boathouse on the water’s edge and at one end of the harbour offers a unique fully subsidised workspace for professional artists. The studio which is non-residential and fully
subsidised is available for three months to one year from October. A deposit of €100 is required, which is refundable. For further information and to download an application form, see www.fingalarts.ie or email artsoffice@fingal.ie. Send hard-copy applications only to Sarah O’Neill, Arts Office, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin. The closing date is 4pm on Friday, September 28.
times to incidents in D15 would be significantly impacted upon.” There has been no investment to upgrade Dublin Fire Brigade’s equipment since 2006, and unions are now warning that the Government’s fire safety policy is flawed.
dispenses support SHERIDAN’S Pharmacy in Roselawn Shopping Centre held a special fundraising event on Friday, August 31. They held a bake sale, as well as offering hand massages, goodie bags, a hamper raffle, as well as tea or coffee and some delicious cakes and buns, to raise funds for A Little Lifetime Foundation, formerly known as
ISANDS. The charity aims to promote healthy grieving and bring understanding and hope when a baby dies at any stage, during or after birth. Store manager Jessica Melia was delighted with the turnout on the day and said: “The day was a massive success and we managed to raise €2,850 for this great cause.”
8 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
POLITICS: EMOTIONAL SPEECH LAMBASTS JOURNALIST
CLONSHAUGH
Renewed calls for oral hearing on sewage plant THERE have been renewed calls for an oral hearing following the delay in the planning process for a planned giant sewage plant in Clonshaugh. Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone said concerns were mounting as it emerged that Irish Water made errors in its application for the strategic project. As first reported in Dublin Gazette last week (inset), Irish Water “inadvertently omitted” key documents from its Environmental Impact Study and was ordered to extend public consultation by five weeks. The utilities company was also instructed to inform the Irish Aviation Authority and Irish Rail of its plans for a facility which will take waste from 500,000
people in the Greater Dublin Area. Senator Noone said: “This demonstrates a lack of joined-up thinking on the part of Irish Water. While it is essential that we upgrade our water infrastructure, we need to make sure there is open and transparent engagement, to minimise the impact on local residents.” Irish Water said it had notified An Bord Pleanala on July 25 about “a small number of supporting appendices” relating to marine ground investigations and road/rail/ utilities crossings which were left out of the submission. An Bord Pleanala will hold an additional period of statutory consultation for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project from Thursday, September 13 until Thursday, October 18.
Presidency hopeful Gemma O’Doherty (above) drew the ire of Cllr Jimmy Guerin (Ind) for saying his sister, reporter Veronica Guerin (inset), was murdered by the State
Applause as Cllr Guerin excoriates Gemma O’Doherty SYLVIA POWNALL
INDEPENDENT Cllr Jimmy Guerin has lambasted claims the State was involved in a conspiracy to kill his sister Veronica as “hurtful, poisonous and unfounded”. Addressing allegations from journalist Gemma O’Doherty at Monday’s meeting of the local authority, he became emotional as he urged: “Let my sister rest in peace.” Cllr Guerin, who rece ived a round of applause at the end of his four-minute speech, accused presidential hopeful O’Doherty of using Veronica’s name to garner publicity. Sunday Independent journalist Veronica Guerin (37) was shot dead as she sat in her car at traffic lights at Newlands Cross on June 26, 1996. Brian Meehan (49) was convicted in 1999 of her murder in the Special Criminal Court. Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan was named in court as the man who ordered the hit. Gemma O’Doherty was recently overheard at a
“
In 22 years, there are only two people that I’ve come across that say John Gilligan was not responsible for arranging Veronica’s murder. One is John Gilligan; the second is Gemma O’Doherty. public meeting in Waterford claiming Veronica was “murdered by the State because she was getting far too close to some of the State’s very dirtiest secrets”. She was due to attend the meeting of Fingal County Council on Monday, but sent her apologies. Cllr Guerin told a hushed chamber in Swords: “These hurtful, poisonous, unfounded allegations that Ms O’Doherty makes insult not only Veronica’s memory, but the many gardai who literally put their lives on the line in challenging the gangs that were responsible for her killing. “There was no conspiracy or State involvement
in this case. Veronica ... was murdered because she wasn’t prepared to be bullied by John Gilligan into dropping charges against him for a most vicious assault which would have ended up in his drugs empire collapsing. “In 22 years, there are only two people that I’ve come across that say John Gilligan was not responsible for arranging Veronica’s murder. One is John Gilligan; the second is Gemma O’Doherty. “I always ignore Gilligan – he is not worthy of it. For years I ignored Ms O’Doherty, but now that she is seeking a nomination to be President it makes it all the more dif-
ficult to do. “I’d rather Ms O’Doherty found something else to use to gain publicity – there is no conspiracy, no State involvement, and I would ask her to allow my sister rest in peace.” The meeting heard from presidential hopefuls Senator Joan Freeman and Kevin Sharkey. Ms Freeman secured the nomination after she was proposed by Cllr Cathal Boland (Ind) and seconded by Cllr Joe Newman (Ind). Businessman Gavin Duffy was proposed by Cllr Keith Redmond (Ind) and seconded by Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind). Senator Freeman secured 14 votes to Mr Duffy’s five. Sean Gallagher was nominated by Cllr Guerin, seconded by Cllr Darragh Butler (FF), but his name was withdrawn as confirmation came through that he had already secured the required four nominations. Afterwards, Cllr Butler, who then voted for Senator Freeman, said: “I am delighted that councils are stepping up to the mark and giving voters a real choice.”
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 9
FASTNews
Play The Mai to start touring at Draiocht NEW YORK-based Irish actor Aidan Redmond (above) stars in Marina Carr’s The Mai which starts a national tour with a performance at Draiocht in Blanchardstown this Saturday. The Co Meath actor is returning to the Irish stage for the first time since 2000 for his role in the play – an epic tale of three generations of a family inspired by love but shattered by inescapable reality. It is both wildly funny and humorously tragic. Redmond, the only male actor in a cast of eight, admits: “It’s a bit terrifying. There’s no-one else to share the responsibility of showing the male perspective. But it’s also a huge pleasure and honour to work with these seven incredible women actors.” The cast includes Lesley Conroy, Derbhle Crotty, Maeve Fitzgerald, Stella McCusker, Rachel O’Byrne, Marion O’Dwyer, and Joan Sheehy. Doors open at Draiocht at 8pm and tickets (€18/€16 concession) are available via 01 885 2622, or see www.draiocht.ie.
Shopping Enterprising centre goes towns hunt up for sale has started SWORDS Central Shopping Centre has gone on the market with an asking price of €21.5 million. TThe centre, whose anchor tenant Penneys owns its own store, provides a direct pedestrian link between the Main Street and the Pavilions Shopping Centre. Other tenants at the centre, which has been trading for 13 years, include More 4 Less, The Works, An Post, Holland & Barrett and Specsavers. The last vacant unit at the centre is available to rent at the mall entrance at €60,000 per year. Selling agents JLL said they expect considerable interest, given Swords’ rapid growth rate and the planned Metro Link network. It’s anticipated that one of the owners of the Pavilions - either UK property group Hammerson and its partner Allianz Real Estate, Irish Life or Iput Property Fund – will become the new owner.
FOUR areas from across Fingal are bidding to become one of the most enterprising towns in Ireland with the chance of winning a cash prize of €33,000. Balbriggan, Skerries, Howth and Mulhuddart are among the 100 entries for the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards 2018. The awards recognise and reward towns where businesses and the community have come together to showcase the spirit of enterprise in their local area. With a total prize fund of €157,000, this year’s awards also feature a new Rising Star category with €20,000 cash being awarded to an urban area that has a specific project which fosters social/artistic/ creative/technological or enterprising interactions. Stephen Kilgallon, Bank of Ireland spokesman for Dublin North said: “I am excited to see some really strong entries from Fingal and know they will do the entire area proud.”
SUTTON: QUARTET COMPETING AGAINST INTERNATIONAL PEERS
Make vroom for some F1 hopefuls heading to Singapore for a contest SYLVIA POWNALL
A TEAM of students from Sutton Park School are all revved up as they compete in the F1 in Schools World Finals in Singapore this week. The four teenagers join 49 teams from 21 other countries who will get an access-all-areas VIP trip to the Singapore Grand Prix. Omar Salem (17), Tim Farrelly (17), David Deneher (17), and Lucy Quinn (18) will see their race car design put to the test by an elite panel of 45 F1 judges. The inquisitive quartet have put in thousands of hours of work to be ready for the ultimate challenge of pitting their vehicle against the best from across the globe. Omar said: “Our biggest challenge in this competition is trying to improve the standard of our car and team, from one of Ireland’s finest to one of the world’s finest. “We are really excited to meet the other teams from around the world. We all come from different backgrounds but we all share the same interests, goals and dreams. “We can’t wait to see
Omar Salem, Lucy Quinn, David Deneher and Tim Farrelly are putting their engineering and design skills to the test with their peers as they face F1 judges in Singapore with their own 21cm-long race bar
how different teams took on the challenge and to see how our car sizes up to the rest. “This has changed the way we see the world, from learning how design and manufacturing processes work, to becoming part of a wider industry.” F1 in Schools chal-
lenges students to create their own Formula 1 team which is commissioned to design, construct and race the fastest miniature ‘F1 Car of the Future’. Each team had to construct a 21cm-long race car built from the F1 in Schools modelling block and powered by a com-
pressed air cylinder. At the world finals, each team brings along a pit display, their car and a written portfolio, as well as having prepared a verbal presentation to pitch to the judges. Each team will also race their car on the Official F1 in Schools track.
After all their hard work, the students will be rewarded with a trip to Marina Bay Circuit for an exclusive F1 in Schools World Finals 2018 pit lane walk and the opportunity to attend the Grand Prix. You could say they deserve a brake ...
Irish Water commits to funding upgrade of supply network in Skerries, repair pier wall SYLVIA POWNALL
IRISH Water has committed to funding an upgrade to its supply network in Skerries, according to local Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG). Following a “very productive” meeting with the utilities company last week, he said they had promised to complete the much-needed upgrade by
the end of 2019. Homes were left without water for more than a week during the summer with estates at Barnageeragh worst affected. Irish Water says it will widen the pipeline, which will improve pressure and boost supply to Barnageeragh Cove and other areas on higher ground including Hill-
side, St Patrick’s Close and Selskar. They also plan to install a new pumping station by the end of next year which will increase the rate of water supply into Thomastown reservoir between Skerries and Loughshinny. Meanwhile, Irish Water has also assured that the damaged pier
wall in Skerries will be repaired. Replying to a query from Cllr O’Leary, the company stated: “The wall will be reinstated and rebuilt to match the existing wall. “The wall has been surveyed prior to the works for both line and level, to enable its reinstatement. The wall has also been photographed before its removal.”
10 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Caroline and Patrick Carey with Brady Kelly, Jack Carey and Alex Kelly. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon
Kayla Herranz and Martina Neumannova
Maya Bose
Fingal Fleadh Ceili Mor in Blanchardstown
Colette McMahon, Vivenne Lavin and Brian Delappe
From Scoil Oilibhear - Liam, Aisling, Eimear, Maeve (front) Aoife, Doireann, Caoileann and Rachel
Scott and Chloe
Beata Neumannova with Silvia and Leah Herranz
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 11
GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
The JCI Fingal Friendly Business Awards
T
HE JCI Fingal Friendly Business Awards 2018 was hosted in the O’Carolan Suite, Grand Hotel, Malahide last Thursday evening. Malahide Craft Butchers, Kerrigans Meats beat off stiff competition, taking the Overall Winner 2018 prize on the night. The highly anticipated awards ceremony saw businesses from across the Fingal community compete across seven categories.
Other businesses awarded on the night included; Customer Care Award, Body First Nutrition (Swords), Community Impact Award, The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre (Naul), Eco-Friendliness Award, Llewellyn’s Orchard (Lusk), Shop Layout & Design Award, Neola Apparel (Malahide), and Disability Access Award, The Brick House (Skerries). The Dublin Rose 2018, Tanya Feighery, presented the Overall Winner Award to Kerrigans Meats.
Laura Enache, JCI, John Dunne, The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, Shane Power, Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, Deirdre Roche, Seamus Ennis Arts Centre & Aisling Brady, JCI. Pictures: Voicu Duma
Jenny Waldron
James Doyle, JCI, Aisling Brady, President, JCI Fingal & Clodagh Murray, Vice President, JCI
Laura Enache, JCI, Conor McGinley, Body First Nutrition, Ray Shah, Body First Nutrition, Aisling Brady, JCI
Laura Enache, JCI, Eva Lawlor, Kerrigans Meats, Adam Fleetwood, Kerrigans Meats, Barry Kerrigan, Kerrigans Meats & Aisling Brady JCI
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FEATURES INTERVIEW | ANNE GRAHAM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NATIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
Listening for your thoughts on reshaping bus services MARK O’BRIEN
THE National Transport Authority (NTA) say they will listen to Dubliners’ concerns before making any changes to the bus service. T h e N TA re ce n t l y unveiled plans for BusConnects, an ambitious revamping of the city’s bus network. NTA chief executive officer Anne Graham told Dublin Gazette: “We decided to look at every aspect of the bus service and try and improve it. “It’s looking at the infrastructure – which is the bus lanes – and asking can we improve them? Looking at the bus net-
“
We’ve tried to cover the whole greater Dublin area with information sessions, and we’d like people to give us their feedback work – can we get a better network of services? “We’ll be looking at ticketing, Park and Ride, all aspects, including improving the bus stops and improving shelters.” Residents have already raised concerns about some aspects of the plan, with people in some areas staging protests at the proposed changes.
Ms Graham said the NTA is open to engaging with these concerns. “We want to hear them,” she said. “ E s s e n t i a l l y, t h e design that’s been put forward has been based on the information that we have; the data that we have, the ticketing data, where people are boarding, where people
live, where the hospitals are, and it was designed around that. “It was taking a fresh look at putting the best network that we believe would serve the city. “But that doesn’t mean that there are trips that people are making that we’re not aware of, or schools that need to be served, or different facilities, particularly hospitals and schools, that have to be served – and we want to hear from people. “What are the changes that they’d like to see to the network? We are listening to those concerns, and there’s no doubt that the proposed network
“What are the changes Dubliners would like to see to the bus network?” – Anne Graham, NTA
[plans] will change. “We know that already from the information sessions that we’ve already had [that the public want to engage with the plans]. “The sessions take place right up to the end of September. We’ve tried to cover the whole region of the greater Dublin area, and we’d like people to attend those and to give us their feedback.” Once all of the information sessions have
been completed, the NTA will look at the feedback and decide what changes to make to the proposed network. They will then decide whether to implement the proposed new network. Ms Graham added: “That’s where we really have to put a lot of effort into communication so that people, if we are doing this work, will know what the changes are going to be.
“We’ve to look at all the kind of tools that we could use to assist people, so that if we make t h i s r a d i c a l c h a n ge on the network, that they’ll have the information before we do that, explaining about what way they’ll make their journey once the network has changed.” For further information and to find out where your local BusConnects information session is, see www.busconnects.ie.
Brilliant baking at Bread 41 MARK O’BRIEN
Bread 41 promises to take a deliciously organic way of preparing bakery fare using traditional methods
A NEW organic bakery and eatery officially opened on Pearse Street last Thursday, promising to serve up the freshest of produce to city centre patrons. Located at No 41 Pearse Street, just under the railway bridge, Bread Nation has built up an impressive number of clients, such as Daniel, Fable & Stey, Fia Cafe, Gerard’s Deli, The Pigeon House and Two Pups Coffee Ltd since it began operating earlier this year. Bread Nation is a fully certified organic bakery, specialising in long fermented breads, which are made using traditional methods and just
a few simple ingredients; flour, salt and water. All breads are handmade over two days using organic flour, which will be milled on-site using Bread Nation’s own stone mill. This method ensures wholesome ingredients of the grain are retained. The eatery, Bread 41, opened last week. In this welcoming eatery, customers can buy breads and pastries straight from Bread Nation and can look forward to tasting an amazing array of food, including brunch, lunch and, in due course, wood fired pizzas. Overseeing the restaurant will be head chef Chris McCann, for-
merly of Two Pups Cafe. Every day, the Bread 41 kitchen will be serving up fresh meal options using local and seasonal ingredients. Similar to its Bread Nation roots, Bread 41 will focus on fermented foods, making its own butters and jams, and sourcing local organic produce where they can, to support local farmers and suppliers. Founder Eoin Cluskey said Bread 41 promises to: “Deliver amazing baked goods, drive exceptional service, create friendships through our customer base and nourish individuals, businesses, and communities through the practice of using the finest ingre-
dients to make great food.” Eoin has extensive experience in the food industry and has travelled the world learning about cultures, lifestyles and, most importantly, food. Upon returning to Ireland, he spent six months studying cookery at the Ballymaloe Cookery School where he learnt everything about there is to know about food, with a real focus on “how it’s grown” and “how to treat ingredients with respect”. He was involved in the setup of the Firehouse Bakery in Delgany and became their head baker before starting out on his new venture.
13 September 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17
2019 REASONS TO GO AWAY FOR YOUR NEW YEAR’S EVE P25
MAGAZINE
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UPGRADED SUV IS ALL SET TO BLAZE AN X-TRAIL P29
Just vote and win Takeaway for a year P24
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY
THE GIFT OF GAZ | YER MAN WRITING LETTERS WAS BOUND TO CAUSE A FUSS
Can’t we all just get along? YER MAN Murphy has a grand auld beard all the same. It really suits him. I came across a picture of him before the beard the other day and sure ye wouldn’t recognise him. He certainly seems a more dashing chap once he’s a bit more hirsute. I just wish he’d have a bit more cop on at times though. I saw during the week he was going writing to councils asking them to get the finger out on the whole housing crisis – and him the Minster for Housing. It strikes me as a bit odd. Would ye not be tryin’ to get them onside like and work together? I dabbled with the bit of whacky baccy when I was a
young fella but I’m no hippy or anything like that but I do sometimes think: “Can’t we all just get along?” I mean, as soon as Murphy sends off that letter, all the other parties start tearing strips off him – what did he expect was going to happen? That’s the way this whole politics thing works really, isn’t it? I say Guinness is the best so the other fella says Beamish is the best, even though the other fella might also quite like Guinness and I quite like Beamish as well. But it’s the party line so they have to go along with it to some degree and they have to attack the other party.
“
I dabbled with the bit of whacky baccy when I was a young fella but I’m no hippy or anything like that
Sure, ye’d wonder what good that does a country at all. Wasn’t it great to see them all out earlier this year when they were campaigning for the Yes vote. It didn’t matter what party they were from, they all got together and put aside their differences and ye know wha’? They delivered a bloody landslide. I know there’s plenty that weren’t in favour of that result but it did show what people can do if they put their little differences aside and work together for something bigger. I’m sick of seeing young feels and young wans either having to leave this bleedin’
deadly city because they can’t afford a mortgage or to even rent a place for themselves. That, or they’re stuck at home at 30-odd, driving their ma and da mad and vice versa. And that’s not the worst of it. Look at all those poor families stuck in hotels, sometimes miles away from their school and the rest of their family. I reckon if ever there was a movement that all the politicians should unite behind then it’s making sure everyone has a roof over their head. Still though, I don’t envy the politicians. It’s a tough auld job. I could never do it. Sure if I did, I’d never get Davy off me bleedin’ doorstep!
18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 September 2018
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HERE FOUR THE BOOKS ELEVEN-year-old John Scottus primary school pupils Sofia Haughton, Anahita Mathur, Momoka Takeguchi and Abigail Lester are calling on schools and home readers to sign up for the 31st MS Readathon, which runs this year from October 12 until November 12. The MS Readathon is Ireland’s biggest sponsored reading initiative, helping to raise funds for vital services for people living with Multiple Sclerosis in local communities. For further information, see on www.msreadathon.ie. Photo: Marc O’Sullivan
Head to Route 66’s Big Band concert ROUTE 66, a 16-piece Big Band, including a male and female singer, bring their fabulous Live in Concert Show to the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire for the very first time on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm. Their show, which has been a huge success with theatre audiences all across Leinster for the past three years, takes the audience on a magical musical tour from the 1940s
right up to date with numbers made famous by Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, Tom Jones, Adele, Joe Dolan, Tina Turner, Van Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald and many more, all played with a fabulous Big Band sound. This really is a Big Band with a difference, and the secret to their success is the great mix of music that they play which suits every age and taste.
A banjo night to remember THE Grand Social will host a special intimate concert with American banjo player Morgan O’Kane (left) on Wednesday, September 17. O’Kane plays banjo like no other. Originally hailing from Virginia, he currently resides in Brooklyn when he is not on tour, where he sometimes plays in the subway and on the street. The music is described as being “to Bluegrass and old-timey what Punk was to Rock in the late Seventies”. Deeply steeped in old traditions, O’Kane treats the banjo differently than you’ve heard it before and brings a Punk sensibility to his music. Joined by steel guitarist, Zeke Healy, and flugelhorn player JR Hankins, the trio bring their distinct form of Punk Bluegrass back to Dublin. Tickets priced €12 are available from www.ticketweb.ie.
PUZZLE PAGE, PAGE 28
Challenge your brain Codewords, Word Search and Sudoku
Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com
13 September 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19
SOME OF THE LATEST EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN DUBLIN
Turn your ‘rubbish’ style into a Junk Kouture IRELAND’S renowned recycled fashion competition, Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture, is back for its ninth year, with comedian and social media personality Doireann Garrihy joining this year’s judging panel alongside Louis Walsh. Doireann and Louis join fashion educator and experts Tracey Fahey and Jane Leavey, and former winner LSAD graduate Stephen McLaughlin, to examine the works submitted by secondary school students from all across
the country. Open to all students attending secondary school, they will need to have their entry design ready for registration, which opens on January 7. Last year, the competition saw 1,500 students enter the competition, which was whittled down to just 80 for the grand final in 3Arena. For further information on how your school can get involved, see www.boijunkkouture.com.
Tayto Park invites Junior Certs to their special day TAYTO Park will host a special Junior Certificate Results Day, where students can enjoy a celebratory day out with a special discounted entry and access to unlimited attractions for €12.50 per pupil. The fun-filled day includes unlimited access to all of the attractions in the Eagle Sky Adventure Zone, as well as a chance to take a ride on Europe’s largest inverted wooden rollercoaster, The Cu Chulainn Coaster. Other attractions to enjoy with friends at the Eagle Sky Adventure Zone include The Air Race, which invites all budding pilots to soar, twist and spin on an aerial adventure. Teens can challenge themselves at Tayto Parks’ Extreme Climbing Wall, testing their strength and agility on the 21-metre climbing wall.
DIARY
DOG OF THE WEEK DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. This week’s dog of the week is Lucy – a sweet and affectionate 10 year old female terrier cross. Lucy lived in a loving home previously and she is really hoping that she will find another family to love soon. She is super smart and already has a lot of training under her belt! She can sit, stay, lie down, give the paw and even go to her bed when you ask her. Her love of food and intelligence will make her a dream dog to continue positive reward based training with. Lucy loves attention and affection so she would be happiest if she was the only pet in the home so she can lap up all the love for herself. She can be a
little nervous, so a quiet and calm household would suit her best. Lucy adores her human friends and would love to have someone with her at home for m o s t of a day, as having company helps her to settle and fully enjoy her doggy life. If you think you can offer Lucy a home, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and
directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust.
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GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
Selina Regazzoli and Michelle Regazzoli Stone Love Island star Ellie Jones poses with fans
Love Island stars Laura Crane and Jack Fowler
Rebekah O’Leary
Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent
Thomas Crosse and Sarah Emma
Rebecca Byrne and Sophie Kavanagh
Laura Ward and Ruth Bergin
Tia Duffy
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Pictured at the Ebow Gallery for the launch of the BEANO exhibit - a pop art print exhibition is ‘The Specials’ bass player, Horace Panter to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the much loved comic. Pictures: Andres Poveda
Beano exhibit at Ebow A
pop art print exhibition in collaboration with ‘The Specials’ bass player, Horace Panter to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the much loved comic. The show will open to the public for four weeks from Thursday September 6th, 2018 with artwork and prints available for purchase. www.theebowgallery.com
Gill Henderson
Joanne Pollard and David Douglas
The Couture Club Irish store launch with Love Island
T
HE The Couture Club, an online lifestyle brand loved by some of the UK & Ireland’s well-known faces from both TV & Social Media, officially launched their first Irish Store in Dundrum Town Centre on Friday the 7th of September at 6pm, the second for the brand after their home-based brick and mortar in Manchester, UK. On hand to help the brand celebrate landing on Irish soil was long time friend of the Couture Club, Coronation Streets Brooke Vincent alongside Love Island’s Ellie Jones, Laura Crane & Jack Fowler. Deemed as the hottest store launch in Dublin this year, guests on the night were immersed into the Couture Club lifestyle with flowing trays of champagne, in house DJ blasting tracks from the shop window and dancers filling the room transforming the store into its very own nightclub. Pictured at the launch were Aoibh Murphy, Andrea Rooney and Blaithnaid Murphy. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
Sadhbh O’Toole & Hannah Mussey
Douglas Reducino and Bryan Nicholas
Michael Reynolds
Zoe-May Ralph and Joanne Pollard
Charlie Maher and Remy Naidoo
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ENTERTAINMENT StillShowing...
SOME OF THE LATEST CINEMA AND TECH NEWS
CINEMA | THE NUN IS HOLY AVERAGE
SEARCHING
Looking into online lives A WIDOWER frantically tries to track down his missing teen daughter in Searching (Cert 12A, 102mins), which is perhaps a little more style than substance but is decent enough. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but at least its exploration of social media personas versus our actual lives – and how little parents and grown-ups may know about their kids’ online lives – provides some food for thought beyond the onscreen electronic sleuthing.
All together now: “She’s behind you!” Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is on the trail of a demonic nun in a creepy abbey– and a demonic nun is on the trail of Sister Irene ...
Frighteningly underwhelming
HAPPYTIME MURDERS A muppet and a puppet
MELISSA McCarthy’s new film is currently getting the stuffing knocked out of it, as The Happytime Murders (Cert 16, 91 mins) has gone down as well with everyone just about as well as you’d expect from a film with Melissa McCarthy and a talking puppet trying to track down a serial killer. The stars certainly prove very efficient at murdering jokes and killing gags, with the studio hoping to quietly bury this with a late summer release.
WITH the country just about getting over the visit from The Pope, perhaps there’s no better time to release The Nun (Cert 16, 96 mins), the longawaited horror featuring a popular side character from the spooktacularly successful Conjuring franchise. It’s a character that’s proved to be a fan favourite through her carefully restricted use – but for maximum effect – in the Conjuring’s setting, so it would seem like an obvious move to give her an origins prequel story. Alas, sometimes less is very definitely more,
TECH TIME
SHANE DILLON
and the film proves that the more you know about something, the less scary it gets. Cue flashback wibblewobble effect... It’s the 1950s, and after a spot of bother involving some dead nuns at a Romanian abbey, the Vatican dispatches a ghostbust- err, a priest, Father Burke (Demian Bichir) and a young nun, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) to investigate, teaming up with a local, ‘Frenchie’ (Jonas Bloquet) who
knows the place. Some of the rules of religion come into play during the investigation, with the cloistered abbey leaving young Irene alone at times to investigate the arcane workings within. (Note that it’s a little hard to delve into, or even skirt around, some of this film’s particular narrative and plot points without being a little more spoilery than usual, so I hope you’ll excuse the following.) It turns out that the abbey is an ancient building with a complex past, and that a demonic rift has been opened up within. Now there’s a demon on the loose, Valak, that’s taken the form of – what else – the titular demonic
nun, ready to loose some merry mayhem. H oweve r, p e r h a p s there’s nun better than the investigators to take care of this demon (like a hitnun, if you will), although any even half-awake cinemagoers familiar with The Nun’s popping up in the later-set films might surmise that this isn’t exactly an open and shut case. Like I said, it’s hard not to be a bit spoilery with this review, in particular, but that tends to be the nature of prequel films about a character who’s firmly established in later canon. That was one of the narrative problems with the recent Han Solo flop
on the big screen, and it’s one of the problems with Star Trek Discovery on the small screen. After all, it’s hard to introduce genuine tension or drama with a character or overall narrative when you know that somehow, they or the central conceits will survive to be core pillars of any futureset iterations. Still, as they say, “It’s the journey, not the destination”, and while the narrative outcome of the film is in doubt, the filmmakers try to tick off all that you’d expect from a horror. Personally, I love a good horror film – not the gross, mean-spirited torture porn of the likes of the Hostel
Sling over to our site for the full review of Spidey’s latest
The consequences of leaders winging it SHANE DILLON
Musk
A SIBLING was once on board a long-distance flight when Richard Branson – yes, that Richard Branson – seemingly got bored, and took to cabin crew duties, handing out drinks to everyone as he’s been known to do from time to time. Such harmless fun, with perhaps a pinch of eccentricity, seems to be par for the course for all kinds of singular men and women who’re the driving forces behind top-tier companies.
However, IT guru Elon Musk – no stranger to this column – isn’t generating the same kind of media-friendly buzz that Branson creates, with his constant erratic behaviour hurting Tesla’s value. His latest negative-impact action – smoking cannabis (legal in that state) on air in a livestreamed broadcast – saw Tesla’s stock value plunge by 6%, swiftly followed by two senior management resignations from their high-profile Tesla positions. Perhaps Musk should take a leaf from Branson’s book, and just start doing some cabin crew work.
ISS a hole lotta mystery
Branson
series, but classic or clever horror, which takes in everything from The Exorcist to the subversive The Cabin in The Woods to even Alien (hey, it’s space horror). Alas, The Nun just seems to rattle along by repeatedly making use of a frighteningly large amount of horror cliches, with everything from demons to exorcisms and many tiresome jump scares in the mix. The end result is a film that has some decent leads, occasionally great make-up and design, but underwhelms as it wails and screams along with all the menace of a fairground ghost train. Verdict: 4/10
A TINY man-made 2mm hole on the ISS is continuing to be the focus of a whodunnit – or a whydunnit – high above the planet as speculation continues about its origin: accident,or sabotage? The drilled hole was first discovered a couple of weeks ago in a docked Soyuz capsule, leading to a tiny air pressure drop. Luckily, using some of the best minds both on and off the planet, a brilliant plan was hatched: put some sealant and tape over it. Ingenious! However, there’s still plenty of mutterings about whether the hole originated on Earth – or on board the station. Watch this space ...
SPIDEY has just been out for a week, but already Marvel’s Spider-Man has been a smash hit with retailers, with the game all but leaping off real and virtual store shelves. Living up to some near fanatical interest, the PS4 exclusive has been the fastest-selling game of the year so far in a number of markets, and in a year with some stellar releases already, that’s no mean feat. Sling over to our website (at www.dublingazette.com) for the full, in-depth review – as a preview hint, the game is a lot of fun – as well as an extended spoiler-free video clip showing off its general gameplay and graphics.
13 September 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23
24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 September 2018
PEOPLE
LEGAL EAGLE
BY WALSH & PARTNERS SOLICITORS
Strict guidelines are in place for any rent hikes WITH the continuing h o u s i n g e m e rge n c y affecting the country, renters are also understandably very concerned about their rights. A common question that many people mull over, renters and landlords alike, is: “Can rent be increased in a residential tenancy?” Landlords are entitled to review rents under a tenancy. A rent review can result in an increase or reduction of the rent. With the exception of Rent Pressure Zones, there is a right to review the rent once every two years. Unless the accommodation has changed substantially, the rent should not be reviewed more often than this. Rent increases in these zones are capped and there are limits on how often the rent can be reviewed. For a new tenancy (starting on or after December 24, 2016) in a Rent Pressure Zone, the landlord may review the rent once every 12 months. The maximum rent increase will be 4% per year. In any tenancy that started before December 24, 2016, the first rent review in a Rent Pressure Zone may take place a minimum of 24 months from either the start of the tenancy or from the date when you were notified in writing of your last review. The maximum rent increase is 2% per year
Karen Walsh
since the previous rent was set, and after 24 months, it would be 4%. Certain properties are exempt from the cap applicable to rent pressure zones. Properties that have not been let at any time in the previous two years, or that have been substantially changed, can be exempted from these caps. However, the rent set for a property must be in line with market rent for similar properties in the area. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has published guidelines as to what would be classified as a “substantial change” to a rented property. The RTB has a calculator on their website to check whether a dwelling is in a Rent Pressure Zone and to work out whether the rent can be raised and, if so, by how much. The information
required to do this is an address, the current rent and the date when the rent was last set. A landlord is required to give notice of the amount of the proposed new rent and the date from which it is to take effect. The notice must be in writing and contain the information prescribed by the legislation, and there must be at least 90 days’ notice of a rent review. This means that the new rent cannot then apply until 90 days after the notice has been issued. If there is any dispute about the amount of rent being proposed, either side can refer the dispute to the RTB. If you are claiming that the proposed rent is higher than the market rate, you should provide evidence of rental rates for similar properties in the same area.
WALSH & PARTNERS SOLICITORS specialise in litigation, personal injuries, probate, conveyancing, employment law and family law. Their offices are located at Unit 7E, Nutgrove Office Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. For further information, please call 01 291 0300, email info@walshandpartners.ie, or else visit the site at www.walshandpartners.ie. DISCLAIMER: While every care is taken to ensure accuracy of information contained in this article, Walsh & Partners Solicitors do not accept responsibility for errors or omissions howsoever arising, and you should seek legal advice in relation to your particular circumstances at the earliest possible time.
Cassie Stokes and Jake Carter who today launched the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards. Picture: JULIEN BEHAL
Just vote and win Takeaway for a year REBECCA RYAN
JAKE Carter and Dubliner Cassie Stokes have been announced to present the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards 2018. Now in its fifth year, the awards recognise the nation’s favourite takeaways from pizza and curry to Mexican, best salad to spice bags, and you will have a chance to nomination your favourite. Dublin Gazette caught up with Jake and Cassie who said they are “delighted” to launch the awards and they are “really excited” to unveil the awards ceremony this October. Jake, who is the younger brother of country star Nathan, spends a lot of time up in Dublin these days. He has recently opened up about his romance with former Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) partner Karen Byrne, from Ballyfermot. The Liverpool native lives in Enniskillen and commutes to Dublin but said “hopefully I’ll move up [to Dublin] someday”. The 20-year-old DWTS winner has lots of strings to his bow. Music, dancing and he can now add presenting to his growing CV. “He is excited to venture into pre-
senting and is looking forward to presenting the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards in October with Cassie. “This is my first proper hosting gig so I’m looking forward to it. Music will always be my main passion, but with the dancing show I fell in love with the TV side of things. There’s been a lot of talk of doing different presenting jobs. I would love to get a lot more TV roles.” Revealing his favourite takeaway, Jake said: “I love a spice bag, especially the crispy bits at the bottom. I do love a good massaman curry from the Thai too. “I wouldn’t be the best with the spice but I’m getting a bit better than I used to be. I tried sushi yesterday for the first time but I’m not a fan, it didn’t agree with me!” Jake will be hanging up the dancing shoes for the time being while he goes on tour in Ireland this month. Xpose star, Cassie Stokes, who is from Dundrum, met Jake once before at the VIP Style awards and said she is looking forward to working with him. “He’s such a nice guy. He’s almost got that contagious enjoyment of life. And he’s very tanned! I should’ve worn a few more lairs! It’s always
great to work with someone you get on with.” The seasoned presenter said she is excited to present the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards next month. “I was thrilled to be asked to do it! It’s an easy [gig] when you absolutely love what you’re talking about. Anyone who follows me on Instagram stories know I get a lot of takeaways!” Speaking on her favourite takeaway, she said: “It ranges. I love pizza, but I love a good salt and chilli chicken from the Chinese or Thai. It’s so delicious! I love every food except for calamari, I don’t like it!” The Just Eat National Takeaway Awards 2018 have a total of 22 awards up for grabs, and to recognise the ongoing change in diversity and choice in the takeaway sector, two new categories of Best Takeaway Middle Eastern and Best Takeaway Vegetarian have being added. To vote for your favourite takeaway visit www.just-eat.ie/takeawayawards2018 Everyone who place their vote will be entered into a competition to WIN takeaway for the year and tickets to attend the awards night.
13 September 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25
A GUIDE TO LUXURIOUS LOCATIONS latitude& longitude Top trips for sports getaways SPORTS nuts can look forward to checking out some cracking deals on offer for weekend getaways – perfect for treating yourself, or the ideal Christmas gift. FC Barcelona V Sevilla FC, Barcelona from €269pps Get close to the action this October and watch as FC Barcelona take on Sevilla FC in Camp Nou, Barcelona – the largest stadium in Europe. Dawson Travel are offering a two-night stay in a city centre hotel and when it’s time to cheer on Barcelona and Sevilla, follow all the action in Category C seating. Ticket upgrades are available on request. Price includes accommodation and match tickets – flights not included. (http:// itaa.ie/2018/08/14/ barcelona-v-sevilla/). Premier League action, one night, Oct 2018 – May 2019, from €199pps Find the perfect package for you, whatever team you are supporting this season, with the Wallace Travel Group Sports Desk. Liverpool v Manchester City, October 6, for €359pps Manchester City v Arsenal, February 9, 2019 for €199pps Manchester United v Manchester City, March 16, 2019 for €349pps Manchester United v Cardiff City, May 12, 2019 for €269pps Each package includes a one-night stay in a nearby hotel and a single match ticket (http://itaa. ie/2018/08/14/ football-trips-season-2018-2019/).
TRAVEL
DEALS | THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT OFFERS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR IN EUROPE
There are 2019 reasons to go away for your New Year’s Eve SYLVIA POWNALL
Travel Editor IT MAY only be September, but some travel companies are already thinking ahead to the end of the year – with some lovely options for New Year’s getaways. If you fancy ringing in 2019 on foreign shores, escorted tour experts Travel Department have put together packages to the Algarve, Italy and Tenerife. Their New Year’s Getaway to the Algarve offers return flights from Dublin to Faro, seven nights’ accommodation halfboard, and all transfers from €799 per person. The itinerary includes a guided tour of Lagos with an afternoon visit to the town of Sagres, and a full day excursion to the Spanish city of Seville in Andalucia. Here, you’ll get to visit the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the Jewish Quarter, Maria Luisa Park and the Spanish Square. There’s also a morning tour of the historic town of Silves, travelling through the Algarvian countryside on the way, and plenty of free time for relaxing and shopping. New Year’s Eve will be spent at the hotel with dinner, entertainment and music to help the celebrations along. If Italy is your thing, then the New Year in Lake Garda package offers seven nights’ half board in a four-star hotel in Milan from €929 per person, including return flights to Milan and all transfers (departing December 28). The trip includes a full day guided excursion to Venice, visiting St Mark’s Square, the stunning Ca’d’Oro and the imposing marble Palazzo Ducale. There is also a morning excursion to Bolzano in
the provincial capital of the South Tyrol and a full day excursion to Verona to take in its famous sites, such as the amphitheatre and Juliet’s Balcony. New Year in Tuscany, again seven nights at a four-star hotel, is from €1,069 per person including return flights (departing December 27) and transfers. The schedule includes a full day guided walking tour of Florence, visiting the famous Duomo Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of the city, and Ponte Vecchio. A morning guided tour of Siena also features, visiting the Piazza del Campo, home of the famous Palio horse race. There is an afternoon tour of San Gimignano, a UNESCO world heritage site that is famously known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers’. Again, New Year’s Eve will be celebrated with dinner and entertainment at the hotel and there are leisure days factored in for rest, sightseeing and shopping. After this there’s a morning excursion to Pisa visiting the Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the Leaning Tower, followed by an afternoon visit to Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini. New Year in Andalucia (seven nights from €949 per person staying in a fourstar hotel on a half board basis) departs on December 28. You will take in a morning guided excursion to Antequera, visiting the impressive ‘Dolmen de Menga’, one of Spain’s oldest monuments.
You’ll be guaranteed fireworks galore at several ancient and beautiful spots around Europe as 2018 makes way for 2019
There is also a full day excursion to the UNESCO world heritage city of Cordoba, including a guided walking tour of the historic centre to see the wonderful Mezquita Cristo de la Lu and other treasures. A full day guided excursion to Granada visiting
Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens also features, along with a full day city tour of Seville, visiting San Telmo Palace, Golden Tower and the beautiful Plaza Espana. A celebratory New Year’s Eve gala dinner at the hotel features a live orchestra and ballroom dancing. You could try seven
nights in Tenerife, departing December 27, available from €959 per person for full board at a four-star hotel. The schedule includes a half day guided tour of Santa Cruz visiting the UNESCO world heritage site of La Laguna, and a morning excursion to the village of Icod de los Vinos, famous for the Canary Islands Dragon Tree, before
continuing on to Playa de Las Americas. There is also an afternoon excursion to visit the Basilica of Candelaria, to see the famous statue of the Black Madonna, and a morning trip to the volcanic Mount Teide National Park. Ring in the New Year with a celebratory buffet dinner with music and entertainment.
For further information on these holidays or to book, see www.traveldepartment.ie or call 01 637 1600.
e
26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 September 2018
Borders need a combination of upright and rounded shapes for best effect and (above) Spreading plants like this hardy geranium are best at the front of the border
Throwing
SHAPES
Stardust Blazer €179, Trousers €99, Babylon Top €49, Envelope bag €110 and Earrings €19
Three ways to wear a
Blazer
Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow garden plans that you can implement right away or in stages. Her design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes. Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas ANNE BYRNE – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens. info@dublingazette.com
HAVE YOU ever thought about shapes in the garden, or to be more exact, in the planted areas? It’s worth thinking about because a well-planned garden will include a variety of plant shapes to achieve the most visually pleasing look. It can be tempting as a new gardener to focus only on the flowering potential of your new best friends, and I understand this completely, having once been a rookie myself. It’s so tempting to wander through a garden centre and be seduced by the colour, texture and fragrance of blooms, and to fill up your garden with attractive flowers. Which of us in the heady first stages of our love affair with gardening hasn’t done this? Unless you choose very wisely though, the flowers can be all too fleeting, and you can be left with a collection of plants that, with flowering over, are not really adding anything else to the party. Foliage matters, although it can seem boring at first, but today I thought we might talk about form, or the actual shape of the plant when it’s fully grown. A well designed garden, and a well designed border, will have a carefully
arranged combination of shapes to complement one another and contrast well with each other. So, rounded shapes, spreading shapes and uprights will all have their part to play in adding to the overall composition. In more formal gardens, plants are clipped into shapes that nature never intended, but that can work very well as a contrast to looser, more relaxed planting. Think of crisp yew hedges used as a backdrop to exuberantly colourful perennials, or clipped spheres of box surrounded by more flowing shapes. Even in low maintenance gardens, the careful choice of form and shape is important if you want to avoid the “plate of buns” planting look. To make it work, you need to strike a balance between the differing eventual size of each plant so you have a pleasing combination of different sizes, always remembering that smaller plants should always be added in groups rather than singly. Punctuate the rounder shapes at appropriate intervals with uprights, with lower plants of spreading habit towards the front. Now when someone asks you “How’s the form?” you can reply “Just perfect, thank you”!
FOR further information on Anne Byrne Garden Design, call 086 683 8098, or see www.annebyrnegardendesign.com
Kamanda Blazer €149, Miniskirt €69, Cream sweater €49 and Belt €39
Jessica Maile
Deutsch Blazer €149, Burnt Skirt €79, Long Bra €29, Shirt €79, Heel Boot €110 and Cornelia Bag €79
BLAZERS are ALWAYS in style and are a key component to any woman (or man’s for that matter) wardrobe. & Other Stories has some tips to wearing this season’s most coveted piece. Blazers in traditional plaids or houndstooth can be classic or modern depending on what’s worn with it. So be brave! Wear one with a flowy skirt to soften the lines or belt it up for a dramatic, formal look!
GYM + COFFEE launches at arnotts IRISH ATHLEISURE brand GYM+COFFEE has launched its first Dublin city centre pop-up at iconic department store Arnotts. The pop-up which will feature the brand’s full range, will be running until October 14 at Arnotts ground floor level. The Irish athleisure brand has quickly become a household name with famous faces including Bodycoach Joe Wicks, Brian O’Driscoll, Kathryn Thomas, Niamh Cullen and Nicky Byrne all sporting the brand. Speaking about the pop-up at Arnotts, co-founder Diarmuid McSweeney said: “We are incredibly excited to work with an institution like Arnotts. It’s an honour for us to be given this fantastic space on the ground floor. This is a brilliant opportunity for us and we can’t thank the whole team in Arnotts enough for making us feel so welcome. Were excited to meet new and existing customers Gym+CoffeeRed Fleck Lite €65 in-person and spread the ethos of the brand even further!”
13 September 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27
FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE
HOME & STYLE
Autumn
Essence the One and Only
Essence Out of the Box
Beauty Bits
LIPPY
Rachel D’Arcy
Sneaky
Style
Rachel D’Arcy
THE SNEAKER trend has been growing for the last year, with high end athleisure shoes making an impact across the fashion world. Now, everyone’s favourite high-top sneaker has come to the high street. Bershka have teamed up with Converse to create three patterns that are distinctly ‘this season’. Repeat patterns and check are two of the hottest trends for Autumn/Winter this year, with the styles already creeping into stores in every shopping centre across the city.
The Bershka x Converse shoes feature two different check colours; a black/grey/white colourway constructed with wool, and a slightly more off-beat ‘Burburry-esque’ tartan in brown/black/ blue and red with a ‘flatform’ sole. A slightly more unusual style comes with the red Converse repeat print, with a white logo repeated on a true red canvas to make a visual impact. There is also a brown and camel monogrammed style, with the signature Converse Chevron logo repeated across the shoe. The shoes are available in selected Bershka stores now, or online from the Bershka website, as well as ASOS, priced from €96.
Wet N Wild Li quid Catsuit in To ffee Talk
With Autumn comes the perfect time to delve a little deeper into some richer colours in your make-up bag, with a statement darker lip always perfect to set the ‘fall’ tone. You don’t necessarily need to break the bank for these shades either, with several ‘drugstore’ companies carrying a range of exciting bold colours that are a little out of the ordinary but still carry a style statement. Wet N Wild Cosmetics ‘Liquid Catsuit’ liquid lipsticks have become a firm favourite amongst beauty bloggers online, coming in with rich pigment at a bargain price - €5 for a liquid lipstick can’t be beaten! A deep pinkish-red like ‘Behind the Bleachers’ or a muted greige like ‘Toffee Talk’ are both subtle but will definitely make an impact. Another high quality, low cost brand is Essence – that old reliable in Penney’s across the capital. Their ‘Matt Matt Matt’ lipsticks have gained cult status for their staying power and innovative shade range. Try their plum shade ‘Out of the Box’, or if you want to push the boat out a little further, go deep brown with the shade ‘The One and Only’, with both lipsticks in priced at €2.79. it su at uid C Liq Wet N Wild achers Ble e th d in Beh
28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 September 2018
PUZZLES
CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!
CODEWORDS
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HOW TO SOLVE Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.
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MOTORS
WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT
Pope drives along Skoda Rapid sales SKODA Ireland claimed rapid growth in consumer queries following the visit of Pope Francis, when he was driven in a Skoda Rapid car (above). Weeks after the departure of Pope Francis, Skoda claims a strong growth in business activity across several of its retailers, as well as increased levels of enquiries to its call centre at the brand’s headquarters in Dublin.
The new Nissan X-Trail comes with more significant comfort and safety improvements and the option of a smooth automatic gearbox. Entry prices for the 2.0-litre diesel seven-seat versions start at €43,450.
The interest generated has converted to sales, with the longest-serving Skoda dealer in Ireland, based in Galway, reporting the sale of seven Skoda Rapid vehicles immediately after the Papal visit. As part of their partnership with the World
MACHINE OF THE WEEK
Meeting of Families, Skoda Ireland donated two of
Upgraded SUV is all set to blaze an X-Trail Nissan’s flagship SUV is the X-Trail and it’s been recently upgraded with more style and lots of safety features. MICHAEL MORONEY trialled the higher spec 4x4 version and was impressed with all it offers – apart from the price
WHILE Nissan’s X-Trail claims to be the world’s best-selling SUV, on the Irish market the Qashqai is the model that shines brightest. I’ve had the new Nissan X-Trail on the road with a combination of its powerful 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and automatic gearbox. It provides a noticeably different driving experience to the Qashqai. The X-Trail is a marginally bigger car than before and also has the benefit of giving a seven-seat option. This new generation X-Trail was significantly improved towards the end of 2017. The engine power from the 2.0-litre unit is impressive at 177bhp, and its high torque rating at 380Nm
means that it accelerates with ease. Engine power is stronger than that of many other seven-seat competitors and the car has a stronger feel to it. The Xtronic automatic gearbox uses a continuously variable transmission system that differs from conventional automatic gearbox systems. The larger power engine means that this X-Trail automatic accelerates with ease. The official economy rating for the new topend X-Trail is 17km/litre (6.0/100km or 47mpg) and that should deliver a range of almost 1,000km from a full tank. In reality, to get 70% of that economy performance is a good result,
even with the X-Trail’s economy drive option mostly in use over my 1,000km test run. This new X-Trail has significant style changes to the inside with new automatic control systems included to give it a more upmarket appeal. There is a new D-shaped steering wheel for easier entry and exit for the driver. The steering wheel’s central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer to give improved instrument visibility. The seven-seat version that I drove has a good storage area and includes sliding second row seats. The third seat row is easy to bring into use and gives an impressive large boot area when folded flat.
Nissan’s ProPILOT system is an option on the new X-Trail, which is claimed to be a first stage towards autonomous driving. ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane during heavy traffic congestion and during higher-speed cruising. The system uses three technologies: Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Cruise Control, and Traffic Jam Pilot. The ProPILOT system is activated via a button on the X-Trail’s steering wheel. Other X-Trail safety features include Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to prevent low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space. The Intelligent Emergency Braking has been upgraded with pedestrian recognition. The X-Trail safety deal includes numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recogni-
tion, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning. Nissan claims that the new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The Xtronic automatic version that I drove is an impressive car to drive, but the price jump from manual to automatic versions is very prohibitive, at more than €4,000. The price jump from five-seat to seven-seat versions is also high at a similar amount, not making it easy for larger families. The entry price for the seven seat 2.0-litre diesel versions with full 4x4 capability, start at €43,450; there are more modest entry level X-Trails with smaller engines and less off-road pretentions, and the same seven-seat capacity, with more value, for about €10,000 less.
the Papal fleet’s Skoda Rapids, to Crosscare and Foyle Search and Rescue charities, nominated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, in accordance with the wishes of Pope Francis.
One special car has had 31 owners – and counting VEHICLE history and data expert Cartell.ie reports that 17,363 private vehicles in Ireland (excluding imports) have 10 owners or more over the lifetime of the vehicle. The highest number of owners recorded for a single vehicle is 31 owners: a Honda Integra registered in Galway with a 1998 plate. This vehicle was imported from Japan in 2006. In 150 months in Ireland, the vehicle has averaged an owner change every 147 days, with one owner having the vehicle for just 14 days. Two vehicles in Ireland record 30 owners: a BMW 530 registered in 2004, and a Lexus IS200 registered in 1999.
Call to curb loophole UK imports of ‘dirty diesels’ NISSAN in Ireland is calling on the Government to ban the import of used cars into Ireland, citing concerns over their carbon emissions. James McCarthy, chief executive of Nissan Ireland, said: “More than 100,000 used cars will be imported into Ireland in 2018. About 80,000 of these cars are ‘dirty diesels’ that do not meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards. “However, a loophole in the law allows these cars be sold and put onto Irish roads because they were first registered in the UK.” Nissan has said that the importation of socalled ‘dirty diesel’ cars from the UK is set to worsen amid the continued uncertainty over Brexit and weak Sterling rates.
30 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
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13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 33
CAMOGIE P39
THE BEST IN DUBLIN
SPORT
A KEEN OBSERVER SOCCER: MICK McCarthy reflects on
the current state of play in the Irish camp from his unique position of having gone head-to-head with Roy Keane during his tenure as well as having had the split allegiances between the country of his birth and the one of his family roots. He offers his thoughts on Keane and Declan Rice in this week’s feature interview.
GAZETTE
SOCCER P36
PAGE 34
LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS BASKETBALL | ROVERS MAKE IMPACT IN DERBY WITH KUBS
Bad Bobs Tolka bare teeth on opening night sport@dublingazette.com
BAD Bobs Tolka Rovers got their Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One campaign underway with a bang on Saturday evening as they won out in an overtime Dublin derby showdown against KUBS, 77-72. Rovers, who are new to the league this season, certainly lay down an early challenge, keeping their cool to overcome KUBS – who have just come down from the Super League – in a heart-stopping overtime battle. “It was great to get the season started with a win,” said Tolka head coach, Emmet Geoghegan. “We got into foul trouble early which made it difficult and KUBS did well to capitalise with their American. “I was delighted with the response from the team to keep fighting until the end and bring the game to overtime. Then, we kept our momentum
and the atmosphere from the crowd gave us a real boost to finish out the game and win.” Justin Goldsborough and Alex Dolenko both landed 15 points each for Tolka with Michael Murray weighing in with 11 points in a good spread of scorers while KUBS were reliant on Elijah Tillman’s 22 and 18 from Rory Carroll. In the other big Dublin derby, DBS Éanna – who have also just come down from the Men’s Super League – got their season off to a winning start with a 62-78 point win on the road over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions. Stefan Zecevic was the top scorer for Eanna with 21 points matched by Lions’ Garrett Collins for whom Igor Markiewicz also weighed in heavily for the west Dublin outfit. Eanna eked out a 40-31 lead in the first and stayed clear in the second to get their season up and running in strong fashion.
DBS Eanna’s Stefan Zecevic and Joshua Wilson at the launch of the new basketball season this week. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The four Dublin sides are all in the northern conference where Ulster University Elks and EJ Sligo AllStars also got wins in their opening ties. Eanna face the Elks next weekend in their first game while KUBS come up against the Dublin Lions on Saturday evening; Tolka Rovers
are on the road to Galway to face gamefootage.net Titans on Sunday at 3.30pm. The Super League, meanwhile, will get under way on September 29 with Dublin sides UCD Marian, DCU Saints, Griffith College Swords Thunder, Pyrobel Killester and Black Amber Templeogue involved.
SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240
34 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
1
CASTLEKNOCK THE official opening of the Clubhouse, formerly scheduled for September 15, has unfortunately been postponed due to circumstances beyond the Club’s control. The Family Fun Day is not affected and will, weather permitting, take place in Somerton, with events and fun activities for all throughout the day. Hope to see you there! Hard luck to the senior hurlers who lost out to Plunketts in a hard fought battle in their Championship. Seeking Minor Football Management Team for 2019; expressions of interest are now being sought for the management team for our Minor Boys Football team. Please send details by e-mail to cknockagc@gmail.com to apply.
FINGALLIANS the academy is back at SENIORS – Fingallians v Fingal Ravens @ 5pm on Saturday in Chanel (Parnells). Juniors – Ballyboden St Endas at 11am on Sunday away. Balheary Pitches: The water pipes are been installed and we have a lot of construction vehicles going up and down along the side-lines of both pitches. Please be vigilant and don’t let any kids near the work site. Teams using the bridge end, please place your pitches away from the roadside sidelines . Dublin Senior Ladies: Sinéad Finnegan and Muireann Ní Scanaill will represent the club in Croke Park this weekend. Dublin v Cork throws in at 4pm in the Ladies Final. Tickets available from www.lgfa. tickets.ie. Intermediate hurling championship result: Fingallians 4-10 St Judes 1-10. The Academy is Back: After the summer break,
10am, each Saturday. All new footballers and hurlers aged 4 – 7 years are most welcome. Foundation Coaching Courses: These courses will commence in October. They will be dual hurling/ football courses and will be 10 hour duration over 3 days (Tue/Thurs/Sat) Autumn Coaching Seminar (Oct 2018): This Seminar will be in 2 parts on separate evenings and will focus on Hurling/Camogie Goalkeeping Coaching and Football/LGFA Goalkeeping Coaching. All Goalkeepers and potential goalkeepers from U-12 to adult will be invited, in addition to Coaches/mentors and all interested club members. Dates will be announced shortly. Grúpa Comhrá: Táimid ar ais gach Céadaoin ag a 9. Seans do chuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh. Oiriúnach do chách agus saor in aisce.
SOCCER: FORMER IRISH BOSS OFFERS WRY OBSERVATIONS ON LATEST TRAVAILS
McCarthy’s keen eye on history repeating
Mick McCarthy “comfortable as a pair of slippers” as his fall-out with Roy Keane comes back into focus this week in the wake of the Harry Arter affair as well as sympathising with Declan Rice’s predicament
DAVE DONNELLY
sport@dublingazette.com
AS IT emerged Harry Arter had put his international career on hold due to a run-in with assistant manager Roy Keane, it was a rare coincidence that Mick McCarthy was in town. The 59-year-old was Ireland manager in 2002 when Keane was sent home ahead of the World Cup in Japan and Korea after a blazing row with McCarthy. McCarthy was vilified for his part in the argument and, despite only being knocked out on penalties by Spain in the second round, was out of a job by the following October. Media reports this week suggest Arter and teammate Jon Walters were involved in a row after doctors advised them to sit out Ireland training. 34-year-old Walters has continued to make himself available for selection but Arter turned down a
call-up for the recent games with Wales and Poland. Keane did eventually return to the international fold under McCarthy’s successor Brian Kerr, but the Barnsley native hopes he doesn’t see the same pattern repeated this time out. “Roy and myself had one of the biggest falling-outs ever,” McCarthy told the Dublin Gazette at an event launching his role as a pundit for Virgin Media’s international and European coverage. “I offered an olive branch and asked him to come back; I was much more of a mediator through it all than I was ever given credit for. “What happens now with Harry, I don’t know. It’s up to them to deal with it. I dealt with it my way – and I’ve been living with it ever since. I’m as comfortable about it all as a pair of slippers.” The thorny issue of Declan Rice’s conundrum over whether to continue representing Ireland or to
NAOMH PEREGRINE THE Coaching the Coaches session held on Thursday which focused on strength and conditioning for juveniles was thorough and very well received. Many thanks to Dave Moran (GPO Lucan Sarsfields) for leading and to Amanda for organising. Mentors - if you have new players joining your teams after the summer break they are to pay the reduced rate of €25 for Sept -Dec 2018. Senior footballers are in Championship action on Saturday at 3pm v Castleknock in Somerton. Please come out and support the lads. Well done to the minor hurlers who defeated St Brigid’s in the Championship. Hearty congratulations to all the mothers who took part in the Gaelic4Mothers Blitz at Erin’s Isle on Saturday last. They won the blitz outright by winning all 6 of their matches. There was no winner of the club lottery this week. The numbers drawn were 3, 7, 9 and 28. That jackpot remains capped at €10,000 until it’s won while the reserve jackpot increases to €2,200. Lottery tickets cost €2. All proceeds are used for the benefit of club members.
Mick McCarthy during his time as Ipswich Town manager
switch his allegiance to England, his country of birth, is one McCarthy can see both sides of. Raised in Yorkshire by an Irishborn father, McCarthy felt equally Irish and English, but took great
“
It’s up to Harry and Roy to deal with it. I dealt with it my way and I’ve been living with it ever since [2002].
”
pride in captaining Ireland at Italia 90. “Declan is a good player — I tried to sign him on loan at Ipswich Town — and I understand why he’s taking his time.
“If Gareth Southgate has been in his earhole, saying he can come into the England team alongside the likes of John Stones and Harry Maguire, that’s a powerful argument. “Not many times in my lifetime have England captured the public’s imagination like they did in the summer. “There’s a bond created by those players like what our Ireland team did by qualifying for three tournaments from 1988 to 1994. “I don’t think Declan is hedging his bets. It’s more thinking that he doesn’t want to make a big mistake. “I know Kevin Kilbane was angry about it all, about Declan not committing, but I just said: ‘did any of us ever have that option?’ We didn’t. “I’d be half-tempted to say to Declan: don’t play for anybody, play 30 Premier League games this season and they’ll all be clamouring for you. “Then you can make your choice. Whatever is right for you. That’s my advice to him.” McCarthy resigned as manager of Ipswich Town towards the end of last season, fittingly signing off immediately after a win over Barnsley during which he’d been booed by Ipswich fans. And he’s made no secret of his desire to continue in management – though he doesn’t expect a second stint in the Ireland hotseat to come any time soon. “If the right opportunity came along I’m ready to go back in to management. Only championship or above. Who knows, there might be someone in the Premier League struggling at some stage. “It’s what I do, it’s what I am, a manager. It was frustrating that there wasn’t more comprehension about what was going on at Ipswich. I spent around £3 million in five-and-a-half years. “Since I’ve left, they’ve spent £8 million in five months but they’re second from bottom with three points. “After six games last season, we were top of the league.”
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 35
LEAGUE OF IRELAND: STUDENTS’ FOCUS REMAINS PROMOTION
LOI SHORTS Bohs make Scottish Challenge Cup history KEVIN Devaney scored the only goal of the game as Bohemians became the first League of Ireland side ever to register a win in the Scottish Challenge Cup. The Gypsies travelled to remote northern Scotland on Saturday to face Scottish four-tier outfit Peterhead without goalkeeper Shane Supple, who was rested, while Dan Casey and Dan Kelly stayed behind to sit exams. More than 50 Bohs supporters made the trip to see a mixture of fringe players and members of their Under-19 league and cup-winning side comfortably see off their opponents, with Devaney smashing home just past the hour. Debutant Robbie McCourt could have sealed it shortly after when played through on goal by Dan Byrne, but after rounding the keeper he slid his shot across goal. It mattered not as Bohs held on to book a place in the third round, joined by Sligo Rovers.
WAVES WASH OUT LIMERICK UCD manager Collie O’Neill
UCD earn “free crack” at FAI Cup semi-final FAI SENIOR CUP Q-FINAL UCD Waterford DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com
2 1
UCD manager Collie O’Neill heaped praise on his squad as they reached their first FAI Cup semifinal in 11 years – but said he’d trade it all for a result against Finn Harps on Friday. The Students stunned Premier Division highflyers Waterford on Friday night with a 2-1 win that was more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests. B r i l l i a n t l y-wo r ke d goals from Conor Davis and Timmy Molloy put UCD 2-0 up at the break before Stanley Aborah pulled one back for the visitors to set up a tense finish. The Blues had all the
ball in the closing ten minutes but created little as College put in a disciplined defensive shift to deservedly take their place in the final four. However, College manager O’Neill – who has overseen the past four years at Belfield – insisted a cup run is worth nothing if they miss out on promotion. “Tonight was a free crack at a Premier Division team, but I still would have swapped tonight for a win next week to put us up there,” he told the Dublin Gazette. “They’re the kind of teams we want to be playing week in, week out. That’s the stage these players should rightly be playing on. “Hopefully we can do the work next week and get up there. We want to go and test ourselves
against the best – that’s the stage we want to be on.” The Students need just a point against secondplaced Harps to seal the First Division title and a return to the top level after four years in the wilderness. The Donegal side are the only club capable of catching UCD and denying them the title, but the Students will be confident having lost just one game at home all year. They’ll take belief, too, from their performance against Waterford, who arrived with a large travelling support and began with the swagger of a side fourth in the Premier Division. They fell behind, however, on 20 minutes as Greg Sloggett threaded an inch-perfect ball through for Davis, who slid in
front of ex-UCD keeper Niall Corbet to open the scoring. Davis, 20, has been in red-hot form since signing from Reading last month, scoring six goals in six games, earning him a nomination for player of the month for August. Six minutes later, it was 2-0 as Gary O’Neill’s corner ran through to Timmy Molloy, and the midfielder curled a beautiful shot into the top corner. The Students were in full control of the game and had chances to extend their lead in the second half, but neither Gary O’Neill nor Molloy could take advantage to seal the win. Waterford created little during the game and their only shot on target came from the spot as Aborah sent Conor Kearns the wrong way after Gary
O’Neill had upended Rory Feely. “With everything that Waterford threw at us, it was going to come down to a set-piece or a corner or something - that was the only way they were going to score. “The longer it went on, Waterford were just gambling that extra little bit, but we were able to deal with what they threw at us. “[We conceded] but still we didn’t panic. We didn’t give up many c h a n c e s a f te r t h a t . There’s good belief and mental strength there in that squad.” On potential semi-final opponents, of whom champions Cork City and Dundalk are two, the manager added: “I couldn’t care less [who we get]. It’s another free crack – we’ll just go at it.”
UCD Waves breezed into the semi-finals of the FAI Cup thanks to a comprehensive 6-0 win over Limerick at Jackson Park on Saturday night. The Students were narrowly defeated by Cork City in the final last year and took one step closer to the Aviva Stadium with their biggest win of the season to date. Caroline Healy scored twice, while Chloe Mustaki, Kerri Letmon, Sophie O’Donoghue and Leanne Payne were also on the scoresheet.
Striker Healy put Waves in front with her first goal for the club inside the first ten minutes. Captain Mustaki – who hasn’t played for two months – netted a spectacular second seven minutes later. Healy added her second before going off injured at half time, and her replacement Letmon made it 4-0 within four minutes of the restart. Midfielder O’Donoghue added a fifth on the hour mark before Payne wrapped things up a minute from the end.
Murray books Shels spot in semi-finals Shelbourne booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s FAI Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday evening. Noelle Murray scored twice either side of a Malinda Allen’s strike as the 2016 cwinner began their quest to reclaim the crown. Captain Murray opened the scoring nine minutes before half time with a rasping shot from distance that flew past Galway keeper Tina Hughes. It was Shels’ first clear chance of a game that had been even to that point, and they could have doubled the lead before the break but for Hughes brilliantly denying Allen. The American wasn’t to be denied, however, and she made it two with a header from a corner midway through the second half. And Murray put a cork in any chance of a Galway revival when netted her third with a low strike ten minutes from time.
36 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
CLUB NOTES
ROUND
2
GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN BUSY time next weekend for Inters and Juniors with both squads down for Championship fixtures. First up on Saturday, the intermediates meet Scoil Ui Chonaill at Westmanstown starting at 5.30pm and, on Sunday, the juniors travel to Kilmacud Crokes for a 3pm throw in. Both teams also have a number of outstanding league fixtures to play with dates to be confirmed.Hard luck to our minors who lost by a point to Raheny at home on Sunday, 2-11 to 3-9.Next fixture on September 23 away to St Brigid’s. Ladies had a good win in the league at home against Parnells by 3-8 to 2-5. No fixture this week and championship semi final v Castleknock is down for September 19, venue tbc. U-16 girls beat St Judes in their second championship outing by 3-7 to 1-9 and U-14s also had a successful outing against Man O War on a 6-17 to 1-7 scoreline. No juvenile fixtures next week with All Ireland Ladies finals on in Croke Park-best of luck to the Dubs from all at Garda Westmanstown Gaels Lots of other juvenile activity in both hurling and football with U16 boys losing narrowly in their championship to St Vincents,U12 hurlers beat Ballinteer St Johns 7-12 to 3-9 and U-14 hurlers lost to O Dwyers by 0-10 to 2-8. Tickets will shortly be available for our 50 Year Anniversary Dinner and Awards night on Friday November 23 at Westmanstown Sports Centre.
NAOMH MEARNOG start with an impressive win WELL done to our adult hurlers who have reached the championship quarter final after defeating Naomh Fionbarra in their final group game. We finished top of the group after winning all our games. The quarter finals are scheduled to take place in two weeks. Our minor footballers got their championship campaign off to a positive
over Kilmacud. Our next fixture in this competition will be against Fingallians at home. Our under 15 ladies football team defeated Ballinteer and drew with Skerries. The Skerries game was a cracker where the concession of a late goal meant we had to settle for the draw.
SKERRIES HARPS
CONGRATULATIONS to Aishling Spillane and the Dublin Premier Junior Camogie team on their All Ireland Final victory over Kerry yesterday. A fantastic achievement for all involved and great to have another All Ireland winner in the club. Well done to the Junior ladies on their win over Craobh Chiaran in the league. The Moriarty Supervalu sponsored U-16D championship team recorded a strong win in the first group game on Saturday the 8th against Croi ro Naofa. The U-15 hurlers overcame Fingallians to make it to the Shield Semi-final. All mentors are advised to check the club website for match and training slot updates on a regular basis. See www.skerriesharps.ie/fixtures for details of all upcoming games. Juvenile & Adult Games Weekly Meetings each Thursday in the Clubhouse at 9pm Zingo Result: 7-2-6-4-1-3-5 We had no winners of jackpot or dividend this week. Next week’s jackpot €1,500. Dividend €350. Next draw will take place on Sunday, September 16 in the clubhouse. How do you win! You buy a ticket! You can also play on line at skerriesharps. ie and follow the links. Entries only €2 each.
SOCCER: BLANCH CLUB MAKE IT THREE WINS FROM FOUR
Dodrill’s Verona get fresh look for a fresh start in 1A LSL SUNDAY SENIOR 1A
Verona 1 Portlaoise 0 DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com
VERONA made it three wins from four to move joint-top of LSL Sunday Senior 1A thanks to 1-0 victory at home to Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon. Ad r i a n M i h u te s c u scored the only goal of the game as Verona leapfrogged Inchicore Athletic to take a share of the top spot with fellow division newboys CIE Ranch. The home side started slowly but found their feet as the first half wore on, and could have taken the lead early on through efforts from wingers Mark O’Connor and Donovan Troy. And it was Troy whose good work down the left that led to the only goal of the game midway through the first half as he crossed for striker Mihutescu. The visitors had more of
the ball in the second half and pushed on in search of an equaliser, but the young Verona side defended well and limited the Laois side to half-chances. O’Connor could have wrapped things up on the break in second-half injury time when he ran in oneon-one but he couldn’t beat the goalkeeper. “It’s a decent enough start,” manager Garrett Dodrill told the Dublin Gazette. “Any one of those games could have gone either way, so it hasn’t been plain sailing but it’s always nice to get the wins on the board.” The Blanch side have taken to the third tier well despite a change in manager and a big turnover of the playing squad in the off-season. After finishing last in Sunday 1 last season, Declan O’Brien stepped down and in stepped Drogheda United Under19s boss Dodrill.
Verona are hoping to start on the road back up the LSL ladder following a good start to the new season. Picture: Anto O’Brien
He’s seen a number of more experienced players move on and recruited young players, players who have dropped out of League of Ireland underage leagues or outgrown schoolboy football. “Pre-season was tough. I had to come in and find out the players that were there and see who was hanging around and who wasn’t. “We lost a lot of the players that were there last year, so we’ve had to go after a fresh batch of
talent to come in. It was tough to get the numbers in but we’ve 30 or 40 lads up training every day now. “We’ve gone quite young. We’ve a couple of 16 and 17-year-olds in the starting line-up every week. “I’d say six or seven of my starting 11 were born in 1999 or after.” He continued: “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Some of the standout players for us this year have been the
younger lads. It’s been a good learning curve. “The boys have come in with good attitudes and they’re buying into what I’m looking to get done. The boys who didn’t buy into it moved on and went elsewhere. “It’s always good to get a decent start under your belt, it makes things easier, but there’s no trophies or promotions handed out in September. “We just need to keep going.”
Mintern wins city triathlon
Chris Mintern celebrates his Dublin City Triathlon spring win. Picture:Bryan Keane/Inpho
CHRIS Mintern and Carolyn Hayes are the new Sprint Distance National Champions following an exciting Super Series contest at Dublin City Triathlon in Phoenix Park last weekend. Mintern retained the sprint national title he claimed at the City of Derry Triathlon last year while Hayes added the sprint to the standard distance title she won at the Harbourman Triathlon in July. With their victories the pair also took maximum points in Round 4 of the 2018
Super Series. For Mintern, he burst clear early on with training partner Kiernan Jackson over the 750m swim along the Liffey and they continued to develop their lead over the field on the 20km bike ride. Mintern made his final break in the running section, finishing off 39 seconds clear ahead of Jackson with a time of 58 minutes and 57 seconds. Hayes was second out of the water but she pulled away on the run to burn off her rivals.
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 37
GOLF: PORTMARNOCK MAN HELPS POWER IRELAND’S RUN TO WORLD’S TOP TEN
Purcell overcomes the Carton nerves to shine EISENHOWER TROPHY
sport@dublingazette.com
PORTMARNOCK’S Conor Purcell played his part for Ireland as they finished 10th at the World Amateur Team Championships at Carton House. Denmark were the eventual champs, posting 13 under on the O’Meara Course to win gold ahead of the United States. Spain edged New Zealand for the bronze with Ireland tied for 10th on 27 under par alongside Germany. For the hosts, it was a memorable championship even if their title dreams were dashed during Friday’s third round on the Montgomerie. Twelve shots off the lead at the close of day three, Ireland’s best hope was a top-10 finish. Thanks to a 68 from John Murphy and a 69 from Robin Dawson, Ireland improved by nine strokes as they signed off in style. Asked for his highlight of the
championship, Purcell returned to the scenes at the start of the second round on Thursday. “I was so nervous,” said Purcell. “There was such a big crowd and I was kind of feeding off them. I was the most nervous I was all week and I still played well. I just didn’t feel confident in what I was doing and I still pulled off the shots so that was pretty cool.” “It was a great week,” said Ireland captain John Carroll. “Unfortunately, Friday knocked us out completely. Three players didn’t play up to scratch and that happens in golf. There’s nothing you can do about it.” Unable to keep pace with the front-runners in the penultimate round, Ireland found themselves falling from second to 12th and such was the standard in this championship, a nine-under return on day four could only move them up two places. “I’d have thought 27 under par
around these two courses would have put us higher than we finished,” said Carroll. “I saw some guys playing out there and they certainly wouldn’t be lost on the tour.” A bogey-free round of 68 from John Murphy proved the highlight for Ireland at the end of a memorable week. In true showman style, Murphy birdied his final hole, the 9th, to secure Ireland’s place in the top 10. The 20-year-old kept the galleries entertained throughout, sinking long putts at the 17th, his eighth hole, and the 7th, much to their delight. For Purcell, he went under par in each round except for his last round on Sunday, marking a fine series for him. Ultimately, golf was the real winner at Carton House. Kind weather certainly contributed to the occasion but the performances were simply phenomenal, the combatants redefining the nature of elite play.
The Donabate side that won the Best Cup
Donabate Best in show BEST CUP sport@dublingazette.com
THE 2018 Best Cup was won by Donabate GC who defeated Charlesland GC over the 2 legs in the final. Donabate took a lead of 3.5 to 1.5 from their home first leg on September 2 and it proved to be significant in a very tight second leg in Charlesland GC. Donabate drew first blood in Charlesland,
w i n n i n g m a tc h o n e 3&2 with players Tony Fetherston and Ciaran McGrath. Charlesland then won match four 5&4 to draw level on the day. Match three provided Donabate with the winning point when John Hannon and Pat Brennan also won 3&2. Team Manager and club vice-captain Joe Rice collected the pennant and trophy and was full of praise for the
courtesy and welcome from all at Charlesland GC for his team. He then p re s e n te d D o n a b a te Captain Paul Flood with the trophy. D o n a b a t e p l ay i n g member Declan Doyle had previously won the Best Cup in 1990 with Donabate GC. 32 teams entered the Best Cup in 2018, contesting the event which is played on a format of five matches of 18-hole fo u r b a l l fo r p l aye rs
of handicap 19 and upwards. The Best Cup started life as the Inter-Club Rabbit’s Cup in 1961 for players of 18 handicap and over and is named after long term organiser Bertie Best and is organised by Malahide GC for participating clubs. Donabate GC have won the cup three times previously (1979, 1990 and 2012) whilst Charlesland GC have been runner up previously.
Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell. Picture: Thos Caffrey/Golffile.ie
38 DUBLIN GAZETTE FINGAL 13 September 2018
CLUB NOTES
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ST BRIGID’S NURSERY every Saturday from 9.30 to 11am. All 4 to 7 year olds welcome. Just pop down and join in the fun. Thank-you to Sherry Fitzgerald for their sponsorship. Senior Footballers meet Clontarf in Championship at 12.15 on Sunday the 16th in O’Toole Park. Congratulations to the Dublin Premier Junior Camogie team who won their All-Ireland on Sunday. The coming weekend the TG4 Ladies Football Finals take place. Dublin Ladies meet Cork in the senior final on September 16. Wishing Noelle, Ciara and Deirdre the very best in their preparations. St Brigid’s annual 5km run will take place on Sunday, September 16 at 10am. The run was a brilliant success last year and we hope to grow the numbers even more in 2018! Sign up online via our website www.stbrigidsgaa.com. All standards and abilities welcome! St Brigids Lip Sync event on October 6, there is a huge evening of entertainment in store, preparations are underway; watch out for a feast of music and fun. A huge thankyou to our great Lotto Committee and to everyone who supports St Brigid’s Club Lotto. Our next Lotto draw is in The Greyhound this Thursday, September 13 when the Jackpot will be €6,400. Disco for 11 to 13 year olds on September 14, 8 to 11pm, details on website. Great wins for our Junior Hurlers, Minor A Football team and U16s in Championship this weekend. Juvenile games are in full swing, best of luck to all the teams playing underage games.
ST COLMCILLE’S ADULT men - no fixtures for the coming week. Mid-September, the lads continue in their championship campaign. They play their last league game on October 7 against Starlights at home. Training continues each Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30 in Balheary. G4M&O- this weekend saw the ladies heading to Erin’s Isle, for their annual Blitz. The girls had great fun, playing four matches throughout the day, thank you to all in Erin’s Isle for organizing. A great day. Nursery: full training schedule on Saturday and every Saturday. This is an indoor session for kids who wish to learn to play Gaelic Football. We run two sessions weekly- 10-10.45am
(3-5 yrs) and 11-12pm (5+ yrs). Contact Cora (083 374 1305). The lotto draw takes place each Monday in the clubhouse bar at 10pm. Envelopes can be got in the clubhouse bar and The Estuary Bar. Thank you for your continued support. Annual awards and Dinner DanceSaturday, November 10 in Peacocks (Rivervally) entertainment on the night RORY’S STORIES. Conctact any committee member for further information. Poker played each Friday in the clubhouse bar, all welcome. The club have a number of rooms and function room for rent contact Marian 0876819540. Keep an eye on our Facebook page Naomh Colmcille CLG.
ST FINIAN’S A HUGE congratulations to the adult camogie team who were crowned Division 7 league champions last week with other fixtures in the league going their way. St Brigid’s needed a win on Wednesday evening to claim the league but could only manage a draw with the girls clinching the league. Huge credit to Mick Lawton and Eamon Morris on this great achievement with the girls! Well done also to the adult hurling team who beat Ballinteer St Johns in the championship on Saturday evening in Ridgewood to qualify for the quarter final with a strong defensive play from Jarlath O’Loughlin, David Hattie and Colm MacBradaigh which set the tone for the win. Congratulations to the Dublin Premier Junior Camogie team on beating Kerry in the All Ireland Junior Camogie Final on Sunday in Croke Park and to our own Ciara Buchanan (pictured) from the Adult Camogie Team who is an ever present member of the Dublin panel for a number of seasons now. Football Championship action returns next weekend. The AFL4 team are at home to Naomh Barróg in the intermediate championship at 5.30pm on Saturday. The AFL8 team are away to Cuala in the Junior 3 Championship on Sunday at 3pm. All support welcome and appreciated for the AFL teams. Well done to Annabel Timothy who represented the club on the Dublin team in the U-14 blitz in Abbotstown on Saturday. The Club is organising buses to and from the All Ireland Ladies football final. Further details will be communicated to the coaches groups and normal channels over the coming days. Come out and support the Dublin Ladies Football Team – COYGIB! Please put the Blue tokens into the St Finians tube in Tesco Airside.
LADIES FOOTBALL: SYL’S STAR READY FOR CORK
Owens looking to make Dub legacy DECLAN ROONEY
sport@dublingazette.com
ST SYLVESTER’S forward Nicole Owens says she is determined to claim a second TG4 All-Ireland senior title and put three Croke Park defeats to Cork behind her once and for all. Owens has been a star performer for Dublin all season as they worked their way through the Leinster and All-Ireland championships unbeaten thus far. A Lidl League campaign saw Dublin lose to Galway along the way, but Mick Bohan’s side still picked up their first Division 1 title against Mayo, in what was a repeat of last year’s AllIreland final. But the chance to take on Cork in the decider next Sunday, after losing in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 finals is a mouth-watering challenge for Owens, and she says Dublin are keen to defend their crown. “There’s a factor in that, that we’ve lost three to them where you want to come away with the win but it’s the best two teams who make the final and we strongly believe that if we play to the best of our abilities and follow our game plan that we are the best
team in the country. “Whether it’s Cork, had it been Donegal or whoever, the onus is on us to perform and it’s a final and we’re going to go out to win. Definitely we’re a happy camp but we also have some things to improve on. “Last year, we won and we consider ourselves the top team in the country and we are determined to defend last year.” Syl’s Owens bagged 1-1 in Dublin’s impressive semi-final win against Galway and has scored in each of Dublin’s five championship games to date, which shows she could well add to the first All-Star she picked up last season. Considering her intercounty debut came back in 2012 against Cork, Owens has certainly put in the hours with Dublin over the years, but she is still keen to improve as a player and hit her peak on All-Ireland final day. “Last year we were really happy obviously with our performance coming away but Mick always asks us to improve as a team,” said Owens. “This year we’re focusing on different things and we’re trying to lift and positively push our perfor-
THUNDER STRUCK Swords cut a dash at launch of new season
GRIFFITH COLLEGE Swords Thunder players, Antonio Odunuga, Emily Black, Anna Brennan and Bobby Ahern are all looking forward to the new basketball season which gets under way this month. The women are in the northern conference of Division One while the men start their Super League campaign on September 29 against Pyrobel Killester. Picture: brendan moran / SPORTSFILE
Nicole Owens in action for Dublin in last year’s AllIreland final
mance up and up and up. Hopefully the final will be the culmination of everything so far this year. “(Against Galway) it was not as comprehensive in the second-half as we would have liked but it’s another All-Ireland final, it’s our fifth one in five
years. “The last five years I have been involved have been great, so it’s a brilliant run, we’ve made it every year and last year was the peak of that so this year we’re looking at continuing it on and creating a legacy.”
13 September 2018 FINGAL DUBLIN GAZETTE 39
CAMOGIE: MANAGER REFLECTS ON SUPER DAY FOR THE SPORT IN THE COUNTY
HURLING
Brigid’s held at bay by Craobh in SHC
Dublin celebrate their All-Ireland Junior Premier final victory. Picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Plowman hails ‘fabulous’ Dublin JUNIOR PREMIER FINAL
Dublin Kerry DARRAGH O CONCHUR sport@dublingazette.com
1-12 0-6
SHANE PLOWMAN hailed the determination of his squad to come back from the heartbreak of losing last year’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Final and make amends in style. Naomh Mearnog’s Aoibhe Dillon landed three points while Skerries Harps Aisling Spillane, Mearnog’s Grainne Power and Laura Walsh and St Finian’s Ciara Buchanan were all part of the squad. The Dublin manager took time to com-
mend Kerry on their first appearance at Croke Park and predicted that their day will come. “It’s absolutely fabulous” said the Thomas Davis man of the nine-point victory. “To come here last year and walk away so hurt, we thought we had enough (to win), came up against a very good Westmeath team. We really did promise ourselves we’d dust ourselves off and do whatever we had to do to get back here today. “It’s a credit to the girls, they left nothing out there. It’s great for the girls and great for Dublin Camogie going forward. “We tried to put down a marker, we wanted to go at them from the start and
in fairness, they kept at us, they wouldn’t let us get away from them. They’re a good team and they will be back.” Plowman agreed that the 15th minute goal by Aoife Bugler, who had only returned from a cruciate knee ligament injury for the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Offaly, was a critical score. “They were holding us out, we were trying to get the ball into Aoife [Bugler] – their full-back (Niamh Leen) was a good player, a real handful for Aoife but once she got the turn on her there was only one place it was going and it took a big lump of energy out of them. It gave us a chance to get a few more points and push forward.”
It was a cracking finish by the fullforward, the result of an astute delivery by Laoise Quinn, who along with player of the match Caragh Dawson and centreback Deirdre Johnstone had huge games. Kerry had no shortage of top performers too, with Leen magnificent at fullback and Patrice Diggin taking it to Dublin at every opportunity. Dublin had too much firepower though. They led by 1-6 to 0-2 at half time and were able to see it out, finishing off with a point from captain Emer Keenan -from Lucan Sarsfields - on the field a matter of seconds after suffering her own cruciate knee ligament injury four months previously.
Knock sneak through in Senior B CASTLEKNOCK secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Dublin senior B hurling championship despite losing a thrilling match to St Oliver Plunketts ER at Martin Savage Park last weekend. OPER took the early lead against a wind and kept a narrow margin in the first half. Indeed, the Ashtown club could have been further ahead at half time if they didn’t squander some good scoring chances. Castleknock’s defence put huge pressure on the
Maur’s Rush to league title
NAOMH Maur’s camogie side completed Divi-
sion 6 league glory this week as they won their last remaining league match 7-12 to 0-6 over Castleknock B. It marked a fine return to action for the club after four years away, the side reforming the adult camogie team with a mixture of young stars and mothers returning to the game, winning eight out of nine league ties. They have been placed in the Junior 1 championship which gets under way this Sunday with an away date against Ballinteer St John’s while their group also features Whitehall Colmcilles, Erin’s Isle and St Oliver Plunkett’s/ Eoghan Ruadh.
Navan Road men to keep the gap to 0-9 to 0-6 points at the break. In the second half, Knock started strong, bringing the lead back to one. However, the pivotal moment came in the 50th minute when OPER were awarded a penalty which was brilliantly dispatched by Stuart Mullen past Jack Banks. There was consolation for the Somerton men who made it into the knock-out stages with Plunkett’s on head to head from a group of four teams in four points Castleknock’s Richie McInerney and St Oliver Plunketts ER Dermot Brennan. Picture: Niall O’Connell
A PERSONAL tally of 2-2 from Billy Ryan saw Craobh Chiarain defeat St Brigid’s 3-14 to 2-12 in group three of the Dublin senior hurling championship. Both of Ryan’s goals came in the opening half – the first coming just two minutes in – as Craobh led 2-7 to 0-5 with five minutes to play in the opening half. Alan McCrabbe was helping the scoreboard tick and he finished the night with a tally of 0-6. However, by the interval, the Russell Park side had closed the gap to 2-8 to 1-8 following James O’Connell’s 25th minute goal and a long-range free from keeper Alan Nolan. Seven minutes into the second half Brigid’s had edged in front following Eoghan Dunne’s goal - the talented young forward finished with 1-3 from play. But it was to be Craobh’s night as Robbie Mahon’s late goal confirmed victory for the Donnycarney men. The result leaves Brigid’s at the bottom of the group and means they will now have to play in relegation playoffs in the coming weeks. There, they will be joined by Naomh Fionnbarra, Crumlin and Raheny in the battle to avoid the drop. Craobh finished third in the group behind Ballyboden St Enda’s and Cuala who move on to the quarter-finals.
GazetteSPORT SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2018
ALL OF YOUR FINGAL SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 33-39
PURCELL HITS THE GREENS
GOLF: Portmarnock
man helps Ireland to tenth place at world amateur team championships in Carton House despite big stage nerves. SEE P36
FAIR VERONA SOCCER: Blanch
club freshen up their side as they bid to rise back up the LSL ranks with unbeaten start to season SEE P36
CHAMPO RETURN HURLING: Castleknock fall to Plunkett’s but still make it through to the knock-out phases after incredibly close group stages. SEE P39
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Trant’s evolution key in Jackies’ revolution JAMES HENDICOTT
sport@dublingazette.com
ST BRIGID’S goalkeeper Ciara Trant says the evolution of the goalkeeper’s role in ladies football has been key to her rise to the county’s number one as she looks forward to Sunday’s All Ireland finale against Cork. Trant has been a key player in the Jackies’ journey, pulling off outstanding saves this year at key moments before Dublin hammered Galway in the All Ireland semi final last month. Trant admitted that coming back at All Ireland football champions this year was “a bit different, but that was 2017. When we came back, we just got on with it.” For her, the change in her role has been key, “The evolution of the goalkeeper has happened as I’ve been playing,” Trant told the Dublin Gazette. “I used to look at it as being a traditional goalkeeper, stopping the ball and hoofing it back out. “I’m glad I’ve changed, though, I think it suits me more as a goalkeeper coming from an outfield background to play a more rounded game. “I wasn’t getting a game and they asked me to play in goal. That was in the 2012 All Ireland minor semi-final,” she says of her move to between the sticks. “In training, we work on our defensive and offensive game plans, all together. The standard of
Dublin and St Brigid’s goalkeeper Ciara Trant
“I used to look at it as being a traditional
goalkeeper, stopping the ball and hoofing it back out. I’m glad I’ve changed, though” ladies goalkeeping overall is improving, definitely. I think it will improve a lot more. “I’m focused on getting through the training sessions as best I can. The technical work has improved, though. “It was a weakness in the women’s game before. “Women have a size and natural agility disad-
vantage compared to the men so you do see goals go in over people’s heads sometimes. You never have your six foot girl in goal!” There’s still a substantial bit of Trant that would like to be outfield, attacking the other goal, she jokes, recalling playing outfield for club Brigid’s in certain games.
“There’s nothing nicer than the glory of scoring, especially when you’re the goalkeeper! I don’t think I could compete outfield in the Dublin team, though, I’m happy enough in goal here. “I did two small-sided games outfield in training, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I gave it socks in those games, I really did.
With my club, I’d like to play outfield a bit more but I’m happy in goal for the county. I haven’t had a chance to play outfield this year.” As for the final? “I think both Dublin and Cork have improved since last year, and we have to trust in our training,” Trant says. “It’ll be good for ladies
football. We feel like we’re a different team to last time we played them in the final. “That rivalry maybe isn’t the same. We parked the games in the past, we don’t dwell on those defeats. We don’t carry being All Ireland Champions with us, either. It’s a new season, it’s just about winning.”